Author Topic: Branson wants Scotland to rival the Kennedy Space Center (ugg) (Read 3707 times)

Chris Bergin · « **on:** 08/09/2006 04:08 pm »

http://www.24dash.com/news/58/9045/index.htm

Monkey and typewriter comes to mind with the headline.

punkboi · « **Reply #1 on:** 08/09/2006 08:16 pm »

Unless Scotland can build pads for rockets capable of sending spacecraft beyond LEO, it's not gonna rival KSC

Spacely · « **Reply #2 on:** 08/09/2006 10:15 pm »

It's always funny how easy countries that have never sent people to outerspace seem to think sending people to outerspace is.

nacnud · « **Reply #3 on:** 08/09/2006 10:53 pm »

I think you find that the headline has nothing to do with the country and everything to do with selling copy.

Spiff · « **Reply #4 on:** 08/10/2006 09:42 am »

Indeed. The only real information that can be deduced from that article (IMHO) is:

'Virgin Galactic is looking into possible sites of operation in Europe should their initial enterprise turn out to be succesful'

Which is a perfectly normal thing to do in strategic planning of an enterprise. Always look at least 5 years into the future. Glad to see that they do. I did not expect anything less from Branson & co.

rosbif73 · « **Reply #5 on:** 08/10/2006 11:33 am »

For less sensational coverage of the same news, try for example this BBC news article.

Quote

... it was planned to have a main base in New Mexico and three other bases in other parts of the world.
"As far as the UK is concerned the only area that we have found that has all the right conditions is the north of Scotland" ...

Rob in KC · « **Reply #6 on:** 08/11/2006 05:36 pm »

I love how the headline doesn't accurately note what Branson actually said. Branson ain't stupid.

Ctrl.Alt.Del. · « **Reply #7 on:** 08/11/2006 06:18 pm »

As much as I love Scotland, it's more cloudy than Venus and rains often - SS2 better have good guidence equipment because half the time they'll be falling through the clouds having no idea where the landing strip is.

Set me straight if i'm way off base here, but the idea of these vehicles taking tourists up into the fringes of space scares the life out of me. SS1 had serious control issues, and I get the impression that Scaled Composites doesn't have anywhere near the experience that it takes to create a vehicle that could be safe enough. Hell, the X-planes had enough scary moments and indeed fatalities, and this seems no different technologically speaking.

tycho · « **Reply #8 on:** 08/23/2006 12:40 am »

Yes Scotland please so its closer for me(the netherlands), so more cheap flightticket to launchsite/training.

yes I am saving money to ride SS2

(current state 1%

)

publiusr · « **Reply #9 on:** 10/17/2006 08:33 pm »

He might have been able to back up those words--had he not blown all his money on that big Clinton Foundation give-away.

Rutan must be angry--and rightfully so.

"We can't give you any more money Burt..."

But you just gave-

"Don't be selfish. Now if you will excuse me I have leave for my parasailing extreme competition and to help Fosset's latest useless circumnavigation record."

First one around the world with with two morons with water on the brain?

"Don't get cute..."