In article ,
(Peter Stickney) wrote:

SpaceShip 1 is an impressive project. Make no mistake about that.
But it's a very limited system, for a very limited purpose. While I'd
be more than happy to bet that they'll win the X-Prize, it's not going
to advance the State of the Art.

Nonsense -- it's already advanced the state of the art. Just a few of
the new technologies developed and demonstrated:

- first manned vehicle with a hybrid rocket motor
- first rocket plane to use innovative "shuttlecock" configuration for
stable re-entry
- innovative high-visibility vacuum-rated cabin

In addition, if "art" includes not just the final vehicle but the
development and production processes as well, it's certainly advanced
the state of the art significantly by developing a reusable suborbital
three-person craft for about $25M.

White Knight, on the other hand, may
end up with a useful post X-Prize career hauling payloads to high
altitudes, for purposes such as Atmospheric Sampling or UV Astronomy.

Unlikely; White Knight's purpose is to carry SS1. Both will have useful
and productive careers as research craft, and then be retired as new,
derivative craft are produced.

Best,
- Joe

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