Space Ship One Launch on September 29th.

[Satanic Mechanic]

Rutan has given his 60 day notice to the X-prize people that he will launch on September 29th.  

Other X-prize news- The Da Vinci team will be displaying their rocket to the public on August 5th.


I hope the X-prize people actually have the money to backup this challenge.

[LunarOrbit]

I hope so too... it would sure suck if after "winning" the X-Prize people suddenly disappeared.

If SS1 launched just 3 days earlier it would be a great birthday present for me. Last year I got a free airshow (some CF-18's flew over my house several times).

[Simkid]

Anyone planning on being at the Wild Fire rollout?  Or am I the only one in Toronto?  I might be there, havn't decided yet.

[Satanic Mechanic]

Here is topic of discussion- Should the X-prize organization charge people to see a historical event?
Take a look at this: http://www.airshownetwork.com/x-prize/faq.php

-Get on the soap box-
I know they say they are charging for "parking".  But this is B.S. to me.  I bet you cannot walk into the area without a "parking ticket".  I think it is not right for the x-prize organization to charge people to see this historic event.  They did not charge for the first flight.  They will already make enough money selling their merchandise at this event.
-Get off soap box-

SM

[LunarOrbit]

Simkid:

I'm close enough to Toronto (I'm in Hamilton) that I could go to the Wild Fire rollout, but I probably won't be able to. I'll probably just watch the Discovery Channel coverage (I'm assuming they will be there).

SM:

Only the good ol' capitalist system can turn a historic even into a money making opportunity.

I agree, people should be able to witness it for free. The Wright Brothers did not charge people money to watch them take their first flights; Charles Lindburg did not charge admission for his landing in Paris (although maybe he should have... it would have reduced the number of people that ran out onto the runway).

[Satanic Mechanic]

I have nothing against captialism.  Hell, I like working hard and getting paid well. I just don't think this is an appropriate event to make money off of.  This is a moment in history to remember, this is not some Wrestlemania.  I bet the X-prize people will have now a Pay-Per-View special next, "just $29.95, contact your cable or dish provider for details!"

SM

[LunarOrbit]

I saw the unveiling of "Wild Fire" on the news the other day. It looks (to me anyway) quite different than the computer simulations I have seen. It looks like there are fewer windows, for example, and I think the capsule is more spherical. It actually looked sort of like a Soyuz.

It did bother me that the spacecraft was covered in large "GoldenPalace.com" advertisements... hopefully they won't be as prominent on launch day (which has been announced... October 2nd).

[Satanic Mechanic]

Pretty tacky... Golden Palace.com on a rocket.  Wild Fire would be better off having Howard Stern as a sponsor.

[Satanic Mechanic]

Just read on Space.com that Rutan is upgrading their hybrid engine by adding more NO2 for a 20% increase.  
I am surprised we are not hearing more news about this since the launch is less than three weeks away.


SM

[LunarOrbit]

Will the extra fuel give them more altitude, or is it just a safety backup incase their trajectory is off again?

[Satanic Mechanic]

That is a possibility.  I figured the reason why he is upping the oxidizer is to make some sort of altitude record (110km?).  For the first time the term "burning rubber" can be applied to a rocket!  (Bad joke I know)


SM

[LunarOrbit]

I guess it could be both... an altitude record if everything else is ok, or backup fuel if necessary. Rutan has definately shown an interest in breaking records in the past.  

[Bob B.]

Will the extra fuel give them more altitude, or is it just a safety backup incase their trajectory is off again?

Or a third possibility is to carry more payload, though I doubt that's the reason.

[Simkid]

Interesting note, I was up at downsview the other day and drove by the Da Vinci building, the door was open and you could see the vehicle.  It still looks pretty unfinished, and the cabin isn't attached to the body, but I think they probably will make their launch date IF they can make the move to Kindersly in time/=.

[LunarOrbit]

That got me thinking of those TLC/Discovery Channel shows like "American Chopper" that show these guys building motorcycles. The paint job is always the last thing they do before it's done, so maybe that's the case with Wild Fire too.

TLC or The Discovery Channel should have had film crews following the progress of the spaceship construction. It would have made "Monster Garage" look like childs play.