Rocket failure

[Brigadier]

Second hand Russian engines...

Anyone getting into a manned private launch needs their head examined...

Good luck Branson

Surprise surprise

'In-flight anomaly' on Virgin SpaceShipTwo

Virgin Galactic says that its SpaceShipTwo space tourism craft has suffered an "in-flight anomaly".

The craft was being tested in the Mojave Desert region of California. Virgin Galactic said it would issue a fuller statement shortly.

Local police said they were responding to reports of a crash in Cantil.

Isn't that the point of "testing"?

 

[ellal]

Second hand Russian engines...

Anyone getting into a manned private launch needs their head examined...

Good luck Branson

Surprise surprise

'In-flight anomaly' on Virgin SpaceShipTwo

Virgin Galactic says that its SpaceShipTwo space tourism craft has suffered an "in-flight anomaly".

The craft was being tested in the Mojave Desert region of California. Virgin Galactic said it would issue a fuller statement shortly.

Local police said they were responding to reports of a crash in Cantil.

Isn't that the point of "testing"?

One dead and one seriously injured apparently...

As the saying goes, if you go private you "rely on thousands of components, each supplied by the lowest bidder"

I wonder how many of those who put down those stupidly expensive deposits on Branson's folly are thinking again

 

[Brigadier]

Second hand Russian engines...

Anyone getting into a manned private launch needs their head examined...

Good luck Branson

Surprise surprise

'In-flight anomaly' on Virgin SpaceShipTwo

Virgin Galactic says that its SpaceShipTwo space tourism craft has suffered an "in-flight anomaly".

The craft was being tested in the Mojave Desert region of California. Virgin Galactic said it would issue a fuller statement shortly.

Local police said they were responding to reports of a crash in Cantil.

Isn't that the point of "testing"?

One dead and one seriously injured apparently...

As the saying goes, if you go private you "rely on thousands of components, each supplied by the lowest bidder"

I wonder how many of those who put down those stupidly expensive deposits on Branson's folly are thinking again

I'd guess that most of those able to afford the deposit might have a modicum of intelligence (to get that rich, it is likely to be a pre-requisite) and therefore, they are well aware of the risks, and willing to accept them.

And I stand to be corrected, but your "lowest bidder" phrase was bastardised from that made by a NASA astronaut, sat in the module atop a NASA rocket. Private contractors yes, but all contracted to a US government body.

 

[Brigadier]

http://theantiyale.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/aint-rocket-science.html

 

[Doug99]

History has a list of test pilots who have been killed in taking forward technology and today's victims will not be the last.

This will me a major blow for Richard Branson who has always acknowledged the risks. But whilst we all may be thinking of the family of the victims at this terrible time, it will only be recorded as another 'tragic event' whilst the urge to achieve commercial access to space continues.

 

[pred]

History has a list of test pilots who have been killed in taking forward technology and today's victims will not be the last.

This will me a major blow for Richard Branson who has always acknowledged the risks. But whilst we all may be thinking of the family of the victims at this terrible time, it will only be recorded as another 'tragic event' whilst the urge to achieve commercial access to space continues.

How many seafarers lost their lives looking for the new worlds a few hundred years ago??

 

[longdogs]

I see Branson as a pioneer and certainly don't class his space programme as a folly. All pioneers throughout history have taken huge risks, sometimes with fatal results but where would we be without them?

The test pilots know the risks, that's what they get paid for and the 'rich' people that have signed up to space travel will also know there will be risks involved but better to do that than spend one's life sitting on one's sofa, photographing one's take away and posting it on facebook.

 

[ellal]

And I stand to be corrected, but your "lowest bidder" phrase was b*****d from that made by a NASA astronaut, sat in the module atop a NASA rocket. Private contractors yes, but all contracted to a US government body.

Doesn't matter who the overseer is, the clue is in the word 'private'

There is also a difference between doing something for profit and doing something for scientific/exploration reasons...

And besides, Branson's little toy doesn't truly go into space!

 

[Brigadier]

And I stand to be corrected, but your "lowest bidder" phrase was b*****d from that made by a NASA astronaut, sat in the module atop a NASA rocket. Private contractors yes, but all contracted to a US government body.

Doesn't matter who the overseer is, the clue is in the word 'private'

There is also a difference between doing something for profit and doing something for scientific/exploration reasons...

And besides, Branson's little toy doesn't truly go into space!

What a bitter and scornful individual you are; someone's willing to reach out, to push the boundaries, and all you can do is scoff and sneer.

 

[Norcon]

Left wingers like ella hate entrepreneurial successful people like Branson.
They would much rather they be stripped of their vast wealth that they worked day and night for.
They like nothing more than crawling out from under their rocks and gloating over their failures.

Same with the Israeli's. A vastly superior race they just cannot deal with.

 

[JBR]

Perfectly true.

Socialists would like everyone to be equal. I agree to a point: I believe everyone should have equal opportunities. There is a difference.

The big problem with socialism is that it encourages everyone to not make an effort to improve themselves. If the state will guarantee you the same as everyone else, why bother?

The logical outcome is that more, or perhaps most, people will not make any effort. What would happen then to all the advances made by scientists and entrepreneurs?

Before long we would be back in the dark ages.

Personally, I prefer the situation where those who make the effort reap the benefits and those who can't be bothered stew in their own juice.

Yes, I know what Ella is going to say: what about those who do not have the mental capacity to make great strides? I believe everyone has the capacity to do well at something, and I accept that everyone is not capable of being a 'rocket scientist'! But look at Alan Sugar. (All right, don't look, just consider.) He's hardly Mensa member of the year, but he certainly has the ability to succeed as a businessman.

 

[jockscott]

Elly won't ever be satisfied. Personally I blame Branson's Spaceship2 exploding on the colonialism of England a few centuries ago. Or possibly on the Crusades of the 12th and 13th centuries. ( at least that might keep elly amused for a short while)

 

[wkdhd]

Left wingers like ella hate entrepreneurial successful people like Branson.
They would much rather they be stripped of their vast wealth that they worked day and night for.
They like nothing more than crawling out from under their rocks and gloating over their failures.

Same with the Israeli's. A vastly superior race they just cannot deal with.

Do you actually believe any of that? I find it astounding that anybody could think that any of it is sense

 

[JBR]

Left wingers like ella hate entrepreneurial successful people like Branson.
They would much rather they be stripped of their vast wealth that they worked day and night for.
They like nothing more than crawling out from under their rocks and gloating over their failures.

Same with the Israeli's. A vastly superior race they just cannot deal with.

Do you actually believe any of that? I find it astounding that anybody could think that any of it is sense

I do.

 

[ellal]

What a bitter and scornful individual you are; someone's willing to reach out, to push the boundaries, and all you can do is scoff and sneer.

Says the tw*t whilst 'scoffing and sneering'

How easy it is to run rings around you and those like you who can't actually put an argument together, but merely ridicule those that can...

If 'your world' is so brilliant why is it in reality so f*cked up?

I do.

Ignorant racists tend to stick together