At long last, a real X-Prize Contender

As anybody who struggled up for my "Back to Space" panel at Eastercon will know, I'm not a huge believer in space tourism and/or the practicalities of private space travel.

However, Burt Rutan the demi-god of aerospace design has unveiled his X Prize contender.

Details here!

I have some issues with what I read here, especially as a recovering and albeit not terribly good former engineer, however, if anybody can do it, Rutan probably can. There is a lot of discussion at the moment as to whether or not his craft represents an "evolution" towards an orbital vehicle.

I'll stick my neck out and say probably not. But at least its somethign different.

Off Again...

Travelling tomorrow - Seattle beckons, but at least this trip I won't be alone. Can't say I'm exactly looking forward to it, but it will be interesting to see what this one brings. We've had 3 meetings now; the first was a sort of meeting, the second got us into a bid, the 3rd was a detailed - "we think we're going to do business" type.

Hopefully, this one will be identifying what that business is and finding out how to make money off it.

Sales is sometimes most unfun.

Still I've a collection of books to read on the way.

Our hotel is further out of town than I'd like, but it is close to the Space Needle which will be fun for M who has never been before. It does have an indoor swimming pool and spa which, given the weather forecast could be important. What it might not have is broadband, so I'll be on a dial up - so no major posting while on my travels...