Goodbye Shuttle, Hello Stratolaunch?

[Ghost]

http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/gigantic-stratolaunch-plane-could-replace-shuttle-program-in-near-future-video-15-12-2011/

http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Stratolaunch.jpg


Three prominent (and very rich) investors team up for the ultimate nerd dream: building a giant plane. Hold on, because by ‘giant plane’ is meant an aircraft so huge, it will take a 12,000 foot runway to take off. That’s the Stratolaunch, a beast of a delivery vehicle for taking passengers and cargo off world in an earnest bid to jumpstart America’s dwindling space program.

[Clovis]

It kind of looks like the Spruce Goose with a rocket in the middle.

That's some good news. The recent Russian rocket failures (read: explosions) have had me a little concerned for our astronauts.

[rforsythe]

Hickenlooper is pushing for Colorado to be granted FAA Spaceport status as well, and is planning to make that happen near Front Range airport. Not sure how rockets are going to launch right next to DIA without conflicting with the airliners, but this is good stuff. NASA is also building a commercial business park in the old Storage Tek complex I believe, so lots of great aerospace things going on in the metro area.

[jbnwc]

Hickenlooper is pushing for Colorado to be granted FAA Spaceport status as well, and is planning to make that happen near Front Range airport. Not sure how rockets are going to launch right next to DIA without conflicting with the airliners, but this is good stuff. NASA is also building a commercial business park in the old Storage Tek complex I believe, so lots of great aerospace things going on in the metro area.

That's awesome. I am so on board with something like that.

[Ghost]

Hickenlooper is pushing for Colorado to be granted FAA Spaceport status as well, and is planning to make that happen near Front Range airport. Not sure how rockets are going to launch right next to DIA without conflicting with the airliners, but this is good stuff. NASA is also building a commercial business park in the old Storage Tek complex I believe, so lots of great aerospace things going on in the metro area.

That would be cool. But, whether it's here or FLA, I don't really care as long as we keep some kind of space program going.

[CraigB]

That would be cool. But, whether it's here or FLA, I don't really care as long as we keep some kind of space program going.

considering how our relationship with russia is going, maybe we'll see another space race.

[Ghost]

considering how our relationship with russia is going, maybe we'll see another space race.

True, though I'm betting China will be the bigger threat--in all things.

[CraigB]

agreed.

Chineses Aircraft Carrier: http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/15/u-s-satellite-firm-says-it-has-first-image-of-chinese-aircraft-carrier/?hpt=hp_c3

i wouldn't call it an armada but it's not something to ignore either.

on a side note, why can't i get href tags to work??

[asp_125]

Hickenlooper is pushing for Colorado to be granted FAA Spaceport status as well, and is planning to make that happen near Front Range airport. Not sure how rockets are going to launch right next to DIA without conflicting with the airliners, but this is good stuff. NASA is also building a commercial business park in the old Storage Tek complex I believe, so lots of great aerospace things going on in the metro area.

That would be awesome. We need some major contracts in the front range. With Martin Marrietta, Ball, CU and a host of others there's no shortage of rocket scientists.

I can just hear the people in Boulder complain about the noise from the rocket launches now. ;)

[Ghost]

agreed.

Chineses Aircraft Carrier: http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/12/15/u-s-satellite-firm-says-it-has-first-image-of-chinese-aircraft-carrier/?hpt=hp_c3

i wouldn't call it an armada but it's not something to ignore either.

on a side note, why can't i get href tags to work??

Heh, that's the ex-Russian "casino" the Chinese bought...I don't see a lot of slot machines on it.

Fwiw, IF I were an aggressive nation, it wouldn't be a bad idea to financially cripple my opponent while making his entire culture dependent on my goods, then cut off the goods and let them drown in riots--you don't even have to invade to defeat them...

...Just saying...

As to the HREF, not sure.

[Clovis]

Heh, that's the ex-Russian "casino" the Chinese bought...I don't see a lot of slot machines on it.

Fwiw, IF I were an aggressive nation, it wouldn't be a bad idea to financially cripple my opponent while making his entire culture dependent on my goods, then cut off the goods and let them drown in riots--you don't even have to invade to defeat them...

...Just saying...

As to the HREF, not sure.

"We shwall defeat them... without even firing a shawt..."

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ESPsE33-jYw/TgoBvJZ97wI/AAAAAAAACKI/XXbXGy7bS6I/s640/funny_chinese_strong_man.jpg