Amid all of the financial crises and political disasters of the current era, it's important to take time to recognize that innovation and progress still continue. The recent announcement about SpaceShipTwo is proof of that—and also provides some evidence about the role of government.
SpaceShipOne, Burt Rutan's experimental space-plane, succeeded precisely because it was not a government-funded project but the work of a private entrepreneur with a vision. At its launch, one fan held up a sign that read "SpaceShipOne, Government Zero."
Rutan has been joined by another visionary entrepreneur, Richard Branson, who has financed the development of SpaceShipTwo as the first of a fleet for Branson's space tourism company, Virgin Galactic. And in a brilliant and inspirational stroke, Branson named the new ship the Enterprise.
I have to admit to getting a bit of a lump in my throat when I saw that particular bit of news. It's one of those "welcome to the future" moments: it is now possible to travel into space aboard the Enterprise.
Not only does this evoke the most adventurous name in science fiction; it is also especially appropriate for the world's first commercial spacecraft.
"SpaceShipTwo Christened VSS Enterprise," Jason Paur, Wired, December 7
On a cold and windy night at the Mojave Air and Space Port, the VSS Enterprise was unveiled to the public tonight. Attached to its mother ship, the vehicle better known as SpaceShipTwo is expected to be the first commercial spacecraft when it enters service with Virgin Galactic.
SpaceShipTwo was built by Scaled Composites under the guidance of legendary aircraft designer Burt Rutan. The carbon composite spacecraft uses the same fuselage as its mother ship, VMS Eve. After a year of rigorous testing, VMS Eve completed flight testing earlier this fall. Rutan didn’t specify when flight testing for SpaceShipTwo would begin, though it is expected to start early next year.
Sub-orbital passenger flights could start as early as 2011 from Virgin Galactic’s space port in New Mexico which is currently under construction. Tickets for the early adopters are $200,000 for a training program culminating with the ride into space. Both Rutan and Virgin Galactic founder, Sir Richard Branson have repeatedly said they expect the prices to drop rapidly similar to many new technologies, including the early days of air travel….
Rutan said tonight’s unveiling is the culmination of many years of thinking, designing and working on making space travel more accessible to more people outside the ranks of government space programs….
With more than 300 future passengers already putting up the $200,000 for a seat on SpaceShipTwo, there appears to be a strong demand for the rides to the blackness of space. After a few successful flights are broadcast to the world, more people are expected to line up for a window seat on the first commercial spaceship.
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