Comments on: Virgin Galactic Unveils Design For SpaceShipTwo http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/ Startup and Technology News Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:50:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: bill mecorney http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1952581 bill mecorney Wed, 30 Jan 2008 23:23:13 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1952581 This format is what would have been used had saner minds prevailed at NASA. The "Do it now" pols had their day, and we got the Shuttle. Imagine where we would be now had we had some patience, Mars? Maybe not. It's been almost 40 years since we've been to the moon ! Seven Million pounds of propellant to Orbit a Truck; Two Billion dollars for an orbital mission to clean toilets at ISS. Government and Science are not a compatible pair. This format is what would have been used had saner minds prevailed at NASA. The “Do it now” pols had their day, and we got the Shuttle. Imagine
where we would be now had we had some patience, Mars? Maybe not.
It’s been almost 40 years since we’ve been to the moon ! Seven Million pounds of propellant to Orbit a Truck; Two Billion dollars for an orbital mission to clean toilets at ISS. Government and Science are not a compatible pair.

]]> By: mthomas http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1937273 mthomas Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:23:32 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1937273 Propose taking space shuttle round trip to Mars, 144 days ! - 67,000,000 miles/hr ! http://www.p2pnet.net/story/14705 Now that's Traveling !!!! Propose taking space shuttle round trip to Mars,

144 days ! - 67,000,000 miles/hr !

http://www.p2pnet.net/story/14705

Now that’s Traveling !!!!

]]> By: koreanfob http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936651 koreanfob Thu, 24 Jan 2008 03:03:39 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936651 #7, #21 -- learn to read. the author isn't labeling virgin galactic a web 2.0 startup; instead, he's comparing the riskiness of virgin's venture to that of web 2.0 startups. if you can't keep up with the writing style, i suggest you move on to something lame(lamer) like crunchgear. #7, #21 — learn to read. the author isn’t labeling virgin galactic a web 2.0 startup; instead, he’s comparing the riskiness of virgin’s venture to that of web 2.0 startups. if you can’t keep up with the writing style, i suggest you move on to something lame(lamer) like crunchgear.

]]> By: Sarah Meyers http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936625 Sarah Meyers Thu, 24 Jan 2008 02:07:45 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936625 Hi Erick, your post got me over to the Natural History Museum this evening where I was able to score this video with Richard Branson. The full version comes out tomorrow morning. http://www.popsnap.net/story.php?title=Video_of_Richard_Branson-_SpaceShipTwo_%AB_Sarah_Meyers Hi Erick, your post got me over to the Natural History Museum this evening where I was able to score this video with Richard Branson. The full version comes out tomorrow morning.

http://www.popsnap.net/story.p.....rah_Meyers

]]> By: Peter Antypas http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936567 Peter Antypas Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:24:29 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936567 When suborbital flight becomes reality, the first industries to feel the impact will not be airlines or space agencies. It will be the private jet market which caters to Branson's target demographic for now, for lack of a better alternative. When suborbital flight becomes reality, the first industries to feel the impact will not be airlines or space agencies. It will be the private jet market which caters to Branson’s target demographic for now, for lack of a better alternative.

]]> By: jack sprat http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936471 jack sprat Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:59:56 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936471 Aviation pioneering killed a lot of people. This will be no different. Aviation pioneering killed a lot of people. This will be no different.

]]> By: Anthony Kuhn http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936455 Anthony Kuhn Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:42:43 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936455 Sir Branson and Mr. Rutan are visionaries. Wait until the price comes down to $30K and there will be millions more people saving up for their space shot or maybe remortgaging their houses. Sir Branson and Mr. Rutan are visionaries. Wait until the price comes down to $30K and there will be millions more people saving up for their space shot or maybe remortgaging their houses.

]]> By: werenotgonnatakeit http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936392 werenotgonnatakeit Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:39:25 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936392 This is not going to operate from a traditional airport. He is building a spaceport in the desert of New Mexico. This isn't crazy at all. It just hasn't been done. NASA is no longer the leader in space exploration and technologies, it will be private companies leading the way. This is not going to operate from a traditional airport. He is building a spaceport in the desert of New Mexico.

This isn’t crazy at all. It just hasn’t been done. NASA is no longer the leader in space exploration and technologies, it will be private companies leading the way.

]]> By: Julio Vasconcellos http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936371 Julio Vasconcellos Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:20:03 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936371 I had a chance to visit the Virgin Galactic headquarters in London and talk to the head of operations, Alex Tai, about the vision for Galactic which is basically to revolutionize transportation as we know it today (1 hour flight from London to Sydney). Not a small task, but I really admire Branson for thinking big (huge!) and putting his own personal money behind these seemingly crazy bets. I recorded the interview as a podcast for iinnovate (podcast on innovation and entrepreneurship) and you can see it here: http://iinnovate.blogspot.com/2006/12/alex-tai-vice-president-of-virgin.html I had a chance to visit the Virgin Galactic headquarters in London and talk to the head of operations, Alex Tai, about the vision for Galactic which is basically to revolutionize transportation as we know it today (1 hour flight from London to Sydney). Not a small task, but I really admire Branson for thinking big (huge!) and putting his own personal money behind these seemingly crazy bets.

I recorded the interview as a podcast for iinnovate (podcast on innovation and entrepreneurship) and you can see it here: http://iinnovate.blogspot.com/.....irgin.html

]]> By: unbias and clear idea http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936362 unbias and clear idea Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:10:27 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936362 Erick. Can I give you an idea? Virgin group was founded somewhere in 1970s. Today, do you find virgin group a young startup company? Richard Brandson brought Spaceship two and hosting new website. You called web 2.0 startup? For example, http://www.space.com. Do you called that web 2.0 website? Erick. Can I give you an idea?

Virgin group was founded somewhere in 1970s. Today, do you find virgin group a young startup company?

Richard Brandson brought Spaceship two and hosting new website. You called web 2.0 startup?

For example, http://www.space.com.
Do you called that web 2.0 website?

]]> By: George Myers http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936351 George Myers Wed, 23 Jan 2008 19:59:04 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936351 Steve Fossett would have been thrilled. I spent time online looking for him looking through Amazon TURK images. I would hope a similar on demand hyperspectral imagery might someday aid search-and-rescue, on this platform, perhaps. The overlays I saw of satellite imagery were not "registered" and one-over-another, showed off locations. If it's what's used in military intelligence, it should somehow be stopped, though Italy was invaded after the photogrammatic coverage by the German High Command, and they knew where every building was. I worked for a short time in close-range photogrammetry with a Rollei system. Canada looked into it after a US military crash in Gander, Newfoundland got them a drubbing from the US, because it was not recorded before the blizzard came, I was taught, while due to language misunderstandings, Avianca 052 crashed nearby on Cove Neck, NY after it ran out of fuel. The Rollei system would allow measurable 3D distances from photos, "photogrammetric" from helicopter flyover after operator and desktop programming with documented optics, why not "edge-of-space" photogrammetry? Steve Fossett would have been thrilled. I spent time online looking for him looking through Amazon TURK images. I would hope a similar on demand hyperspectral imagery might someday aid search-and-rescue, on this platform, perhaps. The overlays I saw of satellite imagery were not “registered” and one-over-another, showed off locations. If it’s what’s used in military intelligence, it should somehow be stopped, though Italy was invaded after the photogrammatic coverage by the German High Command, and they knew where every building was. I worked for a short time in close-range photogrammetry with a Rollei system. Canada looked into it after a US military crash in Gander, Newfoundland got them a drubbing from the US, because it was not recorded before the blizzard came, I was taught, while due to language misunderstandings, Avianca 052 crashed nearby on Cove Neck, NY after it ran out of fuel. The Rollei system would allow measurable 3D distances from photos, “photogrammetric” from helicopter flyover after operator and desktop programming with documented optics, why not “edge-of-space” photogrammetry?

]]> By: Spaceship made out web? http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936349 Spaceship made out web? Wed, 23 Jan 2008 19:56:36 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936349 Erick. Are you talking about startup 2.0 website or something in general? Spaceship is not something made out web 2.0. If that spaceship is made out HTML, javascript, AJAX, web 2.0 graphics that would be great. I'm not the one who got confuse with term web 2.0. You just put it there by accident. Give that to "Crunchgear" next time. Erick. Are you talking about startup 2.0 website or something in general?

Spaceship is not something made out web 2.0. If that spaceship is made out HTML, javascript, AJAX, web 2.0 graphics that would be great.
I’m not the one who got confuse with term web 2.0.
You just put it there by accident.

Give that to “Crunchgear” next time.

]]> By: Dyde http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936342 Dyde Wed, 23 Jan 2008 19:47:20 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936342 Branson is tough to bet against. I think he found a good market here. The only thing is he has to deliver on safety. If there is any fatal incident, this project will fail. There is also a risk that governments will block this kind of travel for national security reasons. To 13 Compared to $20mln Russians are asking for super safe travel this is much cheaper, so he has an advantage there. I wonder how much each plane costs though. 30mlns? Branson is tough to bet against. I think he found a good market here. The only thing is he has to deliver on safety. If there is any fatal incident, this project will fail. There is also a risk that governments will block this kind of travel for national security reasons.

To 13 Compared to $20mln Russians are asking for super safe travel this is much cheaper, so he has an advantage there. I wonder how much each plane costs though. 30mlns?

]]> By: ken http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936313 ken Wed, 23 Jan 2008 19:27:33 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936313 The design looks like something straight out of star trek! www.PlanetSpace.com The design looks like something straight out of star trek! http://www.PlanetSpace.com

]]> By: ken http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936311 ken Wed, 23 Jan 2008 19:25:18 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936311 Beautiful! Looks like 2001: a space odyssey will be about 10 years late, but better late than never! Beautiful! Looks like 2001: a space odyssey will be about 10 years late, but better late than never!

]]> By: Keith --> Kudos! http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936300 Keith --> Kudos! Wed, 23 Jan 2008 19:08:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936300 Great coverage! Thanks for covering this story Eric. People should not be confused. While this is not a "Web 2.0", it is certainly merited because Burt Rutan and his team at Scaled Composites are true innovators. Just looking at this as a luxury ride is a narrow perspective. Personal spaceflight is only the first ripple in what will be a wave of innovation that will follow in sub-orbit, orbit and beyond. I have flown several times on G-force One (www.gozerog.com) and I will be in line for a flight on SpaceShipTwo. :) Great coverage! Thanks for covering this story Eric.

People should not be confused. While this is not a “Web 2.0″, it is certainly merited because Burt Rutan and his team at Scaled Composites are true innovators. Just looking at this as a luxury ride is a narrow perspective.

Personal spaceflight is only the first ripple in what will be a wave of innovation that will follow in sub-orbit, orbit and beyond.

I have flown several times on G-force One (www.gozerog.com) and I will be in line for a flight on SpaceShipTwo. :)

]]> By: Don Jones http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936243 Don Jones Wed, 23 Jan 2008 18:10:41 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936243 Very cool...I want one... Very cool…I want one…

]]> By: Erick Schonfeld http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936222 Erick Schonfeld Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:52:14 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936222 #7, I think you are the only one who is confused. #7, I think you are the only one who is confused.

]]> By: Jeremy Wright http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936192 Jeremy Wright Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:24:12 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936192 For 200K, I'd seriously consider doing this. Realistically I'll probably wait another 10 years for the price to come down to about 50K though. Hell, maybe 20 years when it's only 25K. Either way, the innovation that new space travel will throw off for 1) general consumer aviation, 2) green tech and 3) cars (Aptera, for example) will be significant. For 200K, I’d seriously consider doing this. Realistically I’ll probably wait another 10 years for the price to come down to about 50K though. Hell, maybe 20 years when it’s only 25K.

Either way, the innovation that new space travel will throw off for 1) general consumer aviation, 2) green tech and 3) cars (Aptera, for example) will be significant.

]]> By: Dangerous spacehsip http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936176 Dangerous spacehsip Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:09:29 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936176 I don't know man. The ship doesn't look safe to me. It's kind like another rutans' explosion that killed three people and another pilot killed in newly design planes. Forget it. I won't ride if I were billionaire or millionaire. I rather ride competitor planes build by russians, Lockheed, Boeing, NASA, and 100 years tested & government certified spaceship. I would never ride risk uncertified spaceship and thin oxygen tanks. You died in second. your eyes balls will turn all black. This virgin spaceship is too new and dangerous. "Licenses to kill in space." Ig that ship killed any passgners. I hope the U.S congress should ban uncertified spaceship built by competitors and overseas technology. I see it... Steriod spaceship 2008. I don’t know man. The ship doesn’t look safe to me. It’s kind like another rutans’ explosion that killed three people and another pilot killed in newly design planes. Forget it. I won’t ride if I were billionaire or millionaire.

I rather ride competitor planes build by russians, Lockheed, Boeing, NASA, and 100 years tested & government certified spaceship. I would never ride risk uncertified spaceship and thin oxygen tanks.

You died in second. your eyes balls will turn all black. This virgin spaceship is too new and dangerous. “Licenses to kill in space.”

Ig that ship killed any passgners. I hope the U.S congress should ban uncertified spaceship built by competitors and overseas technology.

I see it… Steriod spaceship 2008.

]]> By: other http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936157 other Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:56:13 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936157 thanks for the web 2.0/internet/computing technology update! OH... wait... thanks for the web 2.0/internet/computing technology update! OH… wait…

]]> By: Don http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936151 Don Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:51:40 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936151 @Yasser: Have you ever actually been to an airport? With the big airplanes? You know, the 747, the A380, etc... @Yasser: Have you ever actually been to an airport? With the big airplanes? You know, the 747, the A380, etc…

]]> By: Strass http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936148 Strass Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:49:02 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936148 I don't see recession coming to the luxury market any time soon... I don’t see recession coming to the luxury market any time soon…

]]> By: Ben http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936145 Ben Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:48:38 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936145 No indicators for how much the price will be and if us mere mortals will be able to afford "suborbital thrill rides", but if Branson can dream about commercialising space flights, we can dream about affording one... No indicators for how much the price will be and if us mere mortals will be able to afford “suborbital thrill rides”, but if Branson can dream about commercialising space flights, we can dream about affording one…

]]> By: T-Systems http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936144 T-Systems Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:48:10 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/01/23/virgin-galactic-unveils-design-for-spaceshiptwo/#comment-1936144 Will TechCrunch have some beta invites for this trip? Will TechCrunch have some beta invites for this trip?

]]>