NASA Redefines Boundary of Space After SpaceShipOne Flights

NASA Redefines Boundary of Space After SpaceShipOne Flights

http://www.watleyreview.com/2004/100504-3.html

In an apparent fit of institutional pique following SpaceShipOne's
successful claim on the X-Prize, NASA has unexpectedly raised the
official boundary of space to 150 miles above the Earth's surface.

"Obviously, going into outer space is a major endeavor which really
ought to be left in the hands of our planet's only capable space
agency; namely us," said NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe. "We
congratulate the fine engineering which went into the production of
this novelty plane dubbed 'SpaceShipOne,' but must point out with
regret that it hasn't reached space yet by our standards."

SpaceShipOne is a privately funded, manned rocket ship powered with
laughing gas and rubber fuel built by Scaled Composites. It reached
the edge of suborbital space Monday - nearly 70 miles high - to claim
the $10 million Ansari X Prize, intended to spur private spaceflight.
However, now that NASA has raised the boundary for space, SpaceShipOne
is officially nothing more than a high-flying airplane.

"Well, let me tell you one thing: we're not giving back the prize
money," said SpaceShipOne designer Burt Rutan. "We owe Paul Allen a
lot of money, and frankly I don't want to mess with someone who's on
Bill Gates' speed-dial list." Billionaire Allen earned his fortune
with Microsoft, and reportedly invested over $20 million in the
SpaceShipOne project.

"That price tag alone should be a warning sign to people," said
O'Keefe. "Twenty million? That would barely cover the cost of the food
on a typical NASA Space Shuttle flight."

NASA has come under heavy criticism recently for continuing to invest
heavily in its aging fleet of Space Shuttles, which are notoriously
expensive to operate and have experienced serious safety problems,
including the loss of two shuttles to accidents.

"It's no coincidence that NASA set the "new" boundary of space just
below the average altitude of typical Space Shuttle flights," said
Rutan. "I would bet that, if we managed to reach an altitude of 150
miles, NASA would raise the boundary to 151."

It is unclear what effect the NASA announcement will have on the
future of SpaceShipOne, or newly-founded company Virgin Galactic's
plans to purchase a fleet of the craft to offer tourists brief visits
to what was formerly considered outer space.

"I think we're going to move ahead with the plans anyway," said Virgin
CEO Richard Branson. "I'll bet that people willing to pay $100,000 for
a 20-minute flight that brings you back to the point you left from
aren't going to be conversant with trivialities such as the legal
definition of space."




;-)

- Rusty Barton

In an apparent fit of institutional pique following SpaceShipOne's
successful claim on the X-Prize, NASA has unexpectedly raised the
official boundary of space to 150 miles above the Earth's surface.

If this is true, I wonder if NASA will retroactively withdraw Alan Shepard's
honor of being the first American in space? After all, his Mercury capsule
only reached 116 miles altitude.

Do the Russians agree with this "new definition"?

"Matt J. McCullar" wrote in message
om...
In an apparent fit of institutional pique following SpaceShipOne's
successful claim on the X-Prize, NASA has unexpectedly raised the
official boundary of space to 150 miles above the Earth's surface.

If this is true, I wonder if NASA will retroactively withdraw Alan
Shepard's
honor of being the first American in space? After all, his Mercury
capsule
only reached 116 miles altitude.

Matt, check your sarcam meter, it's obviously broken.



Do the Russians agree with this "new definition"?

"Rusty Barton" wrote in message
...
NASA Redefines Boundary of Space After SpaceShipOne Flights

http://www.watleyreview.com/2004/100504-3.html

In an apparent fit of institutional pique following SpaceShipOne's
successful claim on the X-Prize, NASA has unexpectedly raised the
official boundary of space to 150 miles above the Earth's surface.

"Obviously, going into outer space is a major endeavor which really
ought to be left in the hands of our planet's only capable space
agency; namely us," said NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe. "We
congratulate the fine engineering which went into the production of
this novelty plane dubbed 'SpaceShipOne,' but must point out with
regret that it hasn't reached space yet by our standards."

SpaceShipOne is a privately funded, manned rocket ship powered with
laughing gas and rubber fuel built by Scaled Composites. It reached
the edge of suborbital space Monday - nearly 70 miles high - to claim
the $10 million Ansari X Prize, intended to spur private spaceflight.
However, now that NASA has raised the boundary for space, SpaceShipOne
is officially nothing more than a high-flying airplane.

"Well, let me tell you one thing: we're not giving back the prize
money," said SpaceShipOne designer Burt Rutan. "We owe Paul Allen a
lot of money, and frankly I don't want to mess with someone who's on
Bill Gates' speed-dial list." Billionaire Allen earned his fortune
with Microsoft, and reportedly invested over $20 million in the
SpaceShipOne project.

"That price tag alone should be a warning sign to people," said
O'Keefe. "Twenty million? That would barely cover the cost of the food
on a typical NASA Space Shuttle flight."

NASA has come under heavy criticism recently for continuing to invest
heavily in its aging fleet of Space Shuttles, which are notoriously
expensive to operate and have experienced serious safety problems,
including the loss of two shuttles to accidents.

"It's no coincidence that NASA set the "new" boundary of space just
below the average altitude of typical Space Shuttle flights," said
Rutan. "I would bet that, if we managed to reach an altitude of 150
miles, NASA would raise the boundary to 151."

It is unclear what effect the NASA announcement will have on the
future of SpaceShipOne, or newly-founded company Virgin Galactic's
plans to purchase a fleet of the craft to offer tourists brief visits
to what was formerly considered outer space.

"I think we're going to move ahead with the plans anyway," said Virgin
CEO Richard Branson. "I'll bet that people willing to pay $100,000 for
a 20-minute flight that brings you back to the point you left from
aren't going to be conversant with trivialities such as the legal
definition of space."


Great !

So, that means that any potential future developments toward suborbital
designs "Oriental Clipper" will not be NASA's domain.

More proof he intends on resigning after 2004 election (list is growing)

gb

Rusty Barton wrote in
:

NASA Redefines Boundary of Space After SpaceShipOne Flights

http://www.watleyreview.com/2004/100504-3.html

In an apparent fit of institutional pique following SpaceShipOne's
successful claim on the X-Prize, NASA has unexpectedly raised the
official boundary of space to 150 miles above the Earth's surface.

"Obviously, going into outer space is a major endeavor which really
ought to be left in the hands of our planet's only capable space
agency; namely us," said NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe. "We
congratulate the fine engineering which went into the production of
this novelty plane dubbed 'SpaceShipOne,' but must point out with
regret that it hasn't reached space yet by our standards."

SpaceShipOne is a privately funded, manned rocket ship powered with
laughing gas and rubber fuel built by Scaled Composites. It reached
the edge of suborbital space Monday - nearly 70 miles high - to claim
the $10 million Ansari X Prize, intended to spur private spaceflight.
However, now that NASA has raised the boundary for space, SpaceShipOne
is officially nothing more than a high-flying airplane.

"Well, let me tell you one thing: we're not giving back the prize
money," said SpaceShipOne designer Burt Rutan. "We owe Paul Allen a
lot of money, and frankly I don't want to mess with someone who's on
Bill Gates' speed-dial list." Billionaire Allen earned his fortune
with Microsoft, and reportedly invested over $20 million in the
SpaceShipOne project.

"That price tag alone should be a warning sign to people," said
O'Keefe. "Twenty million? That would barely cover the cost of the food
on a typical NASA Space Shuttle flight."

NASA has come under heavy criticism recently for continuing to invest
heavily in its aging fleet of Space Shuttles, which are notoriously
expensive to operate and have experienced serious safety problems,
including the loss of two shuttles to accidents.

"It's no coincidence that NASA set the "new" boundary of space just
below the average altitude of typical Space Shuttle flights," said
Rutan. "I would bet that, if we managed to reach an altitude of 150
miles, NASA would raise the boundary to 151."

It is unclear what effect the NASA announcement will have on the
future of SpaceShipOne, or newly-founded company Virgin Galactic's
plans to purchase a fleet of the craft to offer tourists brief visits
to what was formerly considered outer space.

"I think we're going to move ahead with the plans anyway," said Virgin
CEO Richard Branson. "I'll bet that people willing to pay $100,000 for
a 20-minute flight that brings you back to the point you left from
aren't going to be conversant with trivialities such as the legal
definition of space."




;-)

- Rusty Barton


Old news, and quite thoroughly debunked.


--
C:\DOS
C:\DOS\RUN
...\RUN\DOS\RUN

"G.M." wrote in message
...

Old news, and quite thoroughly debunked.

IT'S A JOKE, SON! LAUGH! HE MADE A FUNNY!

Read the Watley Review's Disclaimer he

"The Watley Review is dedicated to the production of articles completely
without journalistic merit or factual basis, as this would entail leaving
our chairs or actually working. Names, places and events are generally
fictitious, except for public figures about which we may have heard
something down at the pub. All contents are intended as parody and should be
construed as such."

http://www.watleyreview.com/About.html

"G.M."
Old news, and quite thoroughly debunked.

Still quoted extensively, though.

"Revision" kb@techispdotcom wrote in message
...
"G.M."
Old news, and quite thoroughly debunked.

Still quoted extensively, though.

There's also the point that it's not up to NASA to make that decision; it's
an international standard, not U.S. It would also require legislation to be
passed, and it's unlikely to happen on such a trivial matter.

--
Alan Erskine
We can get people to the Moon in five years,
not the fifteen GWB proposes.
Give NASA a real challenge

"Alan Erskine" wrote in message
...
"Revision" kb@techispdotcom wrote in message
...
"G.M."
Old news, and quite thoroughly debunked.

Still quoted extensively, though.

There's also the point that it's not up to NASA to make that decision;
it's
an international standard, not U.S. It would also require legislation to
be
passed, and it's unlikely to happen on such a trivial matter.

Legislation by whom?

Can you point to any current legislation the "defines space"?



--
Alan Erskine
We can get people to the Moon in five years,
not the fifteen GWB proposes.
Give NASA a real challenge

"Greg D. Moore (Strider)" wrote in message
. ..

"Alan Erskine" wrote in message
...
"Revision" kb@techispdotcom wrote in message
...
"G.M."
Old news, and quite thoroughly debunked.

Still quoted extensively, though.

There's also the point that it's not up to NASA to make that decision;
it's
an international standard, not U.S. It would also require legislation
to
be
passed, and it's unlikely to happen on such a trivial matter.

Legislation by whom?

Can you point to any current legislation the "defines space"?

Sorry, poor wording. More along the lines of government rather than just a
government department or agency, as the case with NASA. After all, it
wasn't NASA's definition that space begins at (85km? can't remember the
figure off hand).


--
Alan Erskine
We can get people to the Moon in five years,
not the fifteen GWB proposes.
Give NASA a real challenge