Comments on: Blue Origin opens up

By: Tony

Tony — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 04:32:24 +0000

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6729341
the above has a link to a 3:37 audio file that sheds some light on the meaning of gradatim ferociter.

By: Chance

Chance — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 18:27:08 +0000

I can’t put together a model rocket, much less a real one, but thanks you for the answer on the regulatory question.

By: Jeff Foust

Jeff Foust — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 17:37:43 +0000

On foreign ownership: launch vehicle operators (like Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin) don’t fall into the same regulatory category as airlines, and therefore the foreign ownership restrictions that apply to airlines do not apply to them.

As for windows, Bezos does state that Goddard is the first in a series of development vehicles, and I would guess that their focus right now is on low-level flight, testing the engines and their takeoff and landing systems. The presence of windows is probably a second-order issue at this stage: something they’re aware of and designing for future vehicles, but less of a concern here compared to other key subsystems.

Of course, if you think they’re doing it wrong, Chance, you can always apply for an engineering job there and tell them how they should be doing it. After all, they are hiring…

By: Garry

Garry — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 14:17:18 +0000

Chance:
I’m guessing space airlines or “spacelines” must be “immune” from a lot of formation laws governing traditional airlines. I believe there is a law introduced in the 1930s (?date) that states that an airline cannot be owned by an engine or airframe manufacturer, yet many spaceship concepts will be flown regularly for airline style operations by the companies that built them.

By: Chance

Chance — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 12:33:44 +0000

Sorry about the grammer mistakes, when I get frustrated my typing ability plummets.

By: Chance

Chance — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 12:22:59 +0000

That’s two comments I’ve submitted that aren’t posting. If this one goes through, I will try again.

By: Jeff Foust

Jeff Foust — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 00:43:29 +0000

Chance: As has been pointed out, this is a small-scale prototype, so the lack of windows is not surprising. Also, I don’t know what you mean by your question “any comment on the issue I brought up below?” Could be more specific about the issue in question?

By: Rick Boozer

Rick Boozer — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 22:39:38 +0000

Regarding Chance’s comment:
Why have windows on an unmanned prototype vehicle that will never actually carry people?

By: Chance

Chance — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 20:48:17 +0000

I got to say, while the video was cool, my first thought was “where are the windows?” I’m sure this craft will go through many changes before it is ready for primetime, but I think that’s a big deal for a suborbital tourist. Also, any comment on the issue I brought up below?