Virgin Galactic and WhiteKnightTwo with Buzz, Branson, and Rutan
Today on Boing Boing tv, Xeni is joined by astronaut and American hero Buzz Aldrin, Virgin Galactic founder Sir Richard Branson, Scaled Composites founder Burt Rutan, and other space luminaries for an exploration of private space travel -- the technology, the science, and the human experience.
We fly to the Mojave spaceport to witness the unveiling of WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft that will carry SpaceShipTwo and passengers on Virgin Galactic suborbital space flights.
Related: All about "Eve": Virgin Galactic mothership unveiled.
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More Buzz!
Nice piece though. That's a fascinating plane they have.
I really don't think this whole "private space flight" thing will ever take off. Too many angry, angry, angry poor people. They will storm the gates.
RE Branson's efforts at Space Tourism.
He's the front man...setting up the ground rules for those who may follow.
He's not very good at it, because neither he nor anyone else has any idea what to do.
Take his SpacePortAmerica plans.
Total EcoDisaster for the surrounding area...to build a place which is totally dependent on Petro Chems for its existence...while running the VirginEarthChallenge...OOPS!
For more Branson foolishness...
http://virginpush.blogspot.com
or check the Fadda Eart Blog to learn even more.
Forge Ahead...
Eart
'Buzz' Aldrin is my favorite astronaut. I met him (I had the pleasure to meet Michael Collins, also, -but not Neil Armstrong, yet- about thirty years ago. Michael Collins is a very reserved, intense, individual. Just like you would expect astronauts would be.) at a private party in Los Angeles about fifteen years ago and was impressed with his excitement for all things 'technical'. The one thing that I like most about 'Buzz' is that he's a bad-ass, right up there with Chuck Norris. This YouTube video where 'Buzz' cold-cocks moon landing hoax conspiracy douchebag, Bart Sibrel, says it all.
I absolutely think space flight, especially safe, affordable, civilian space flight is an incredible step in human civilization. That said, when Branson said, "I've always wanted to go into space, so I bought a spacecraft! **haughty laugh**" was I the only one who felt the uncontrollable urge to punch him in the face?