Privately-built ion thrusters?

Richard Hofer wrote:

Of course, who would have thought
SpaceShipOne could reach orbit for a paltry $20M?

They didn't.

What they've done is built a 3-man X-15 with half the original's maximum
speed.

It's still a remarkable *aeronautical* achievement, but it's a long long way
from orbit, for which (IMHO) you're talking at least another order of
magnitude of $$$.

--
Malcolm Street
Canberra, Australia
The nation's capital