next xprize competion.

the purpose of the xprize is to knock out several technical problems at once, any x2 prize has to be all or nothing, not intermediate steps (trans-continental hopping is not an intermediate step, if that should be it). most of those concepts will have to be tackled to make an orbital vehicle, but some have already been completed by one team or another-- namely armadillo.

To take trans-continental hopping as an example - it requires infrastructure and launch equipment at each continent. But significant parts of the equipment the teams have is existing only once today.

So hopping requires the doubling of the equipment of those teams whose spacecrafts should be used for hopping. But if - for example - SpaceShipOne could be launched by the Da Vinci's balloon as well as by the Wight Knight nothing has to be doubled if Da Vinci's balloon is stationed in Europe and SpaceShipOne had to start in America and to land in Europe.

For a third continent perhaps ILAT's balloon could be used if its height were increased to at least 15,000 meters.

That was an example.

So "a) Competition for the ability to combine spacecrafts or parts of spacecrafts of several teams" might cause the evolution of a cheap hopping infrastructure directly out of the competition for the XPRIZE.

This infrastructure is necessary for hopping and same-day-package-delivery. Additionally - and more important - it's a significant requirement for the long-run-success of private spacecrafts, private space launches and private space travels. This way it can quickly become a serious competitor to air traffic by planes.

Using the ability to combine for reaching th orbit would be a positive side effect.



Dipl.-Volkswirt (bdvb) Augustin (Political Economist)

Hello, TerraMrs,

a few time ago you said "scaled has said they'll be going to orbit before people expect, we may see orbit in as few as 3 years, but i suspect it'll take them 5".

That' s very interesting - where can I read more? I didn't find a statement concerning the orbit at Scaled's homepage.



Dipl.-Volkswirt (bdvb) Augustin (Political Economist)

Rutan said at a June press conference that he'll be going to orbit sooner than you think, but he did not attach any numbers.

Hello, The Legionnaire,

where can I find documents reporting from this conference - articles an so on?

I've been looking and searching for articles, but didn't find any. German articles seem to be reporting wrong - I asked Scaled by E-Mail. So I don't trust german articles reporting orbital intentions or things like cerification costs.



Dipl.-Volkswirt (bdvb) Augustin (Political Economist)

http://www.thedailypress.com/artman/publish/article_1176.shtml

Lest all this sound like a futuristic pipe dream, consider that more than 20 private companies from around the world have committed to be in the competition to see who can fly the highest, climb the fastest or launch a second flight the soonest after landing from the first. Many of those prizes are already funded.

Here's one: http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/SS ... 40620.html. THe quote is near the bottom: "However, we’re heading to orbit sooner than you think. And we know it’s crucial to dramatically reduce the cost. We do not plan to stay in low Earth orbit for decades, but to enable high adventure and exploration as soon as the new technologies allow...So hold on. The next 25 years will be a wild ride, that’s my prediction."

Hello, The Legionnaire,

Thank you very much for this advice.

I am going to read it - this moment the articles seems to be unaccessable and I will send an email to get it another way.



Dipl.-Volkswirt (bdvb) Augustin (Political Economist)

A short time ago a XPRIZE2 competition for the orbit has been discussed here. But five firms or teams seem to be already working on orbital spaceships:



Advent Launch Services

Bristol Spaceplanes

Interorbital Systems

Kelly Space & Technologies

Lone Star Space Access Corporation



Interorbital has announced a manned flight to orbit for 2006.

What does that mean for an orbital XPRIZE?



Dipl.-Volkswirt (bdvb) Augustin (Political Economist)