Perhaps the Ultimate Thrill Ride

[Racemind]

Not for those with a fear of heights. Wanna go for a ride?

[Truth Detector]

Well, there's a noticeable absence of sponsors on the driver's suit but the 3-day attendance appears to be 152,000.

[skypigeon]

And you get down alive... how?

[Gomer Simpson]

There was an old Apollo astronaut on Letterman's show several years ago...probably 4 or 5, talking about something like this.

He said it would be the new method of civillian travel and you'd be able to travel from New York to Australia in a half hour. I wish I could remember his name. He was pretty psyched up as I guess he was/is supposed to be the first to do it. He was comparing himself to Neil Armstrong being the first to walk on the moon.

[Truth Detector]

At a cost of $20,000,000 per flight?

[comfortably numb]

If you shake it does it look like it's snowing inside?

[R22]

why the helmet?

[9rows]

need more info.

i noticed the logo of a company i am closely associated with on the "suit".

ps, i am in if someone buys me a ticket!

[Indyknut]

The capsule is all wrong. I think something by Batesville would be more appropriate given the probable end of that story.

[piston9]

One way trip. Cash up front only.



You get zero gravity for as long as you can breathe, providing you don't attempt re-entry first.

And the helmet is so you can't see how @#$@# scared @#$#@less the guy in the bubble is

[Indy Red]

I wandered what happened to my yellow straps in the back of my pickup!
[/QUOTE]

[Truth Detector]

The capsule is all wrong. I think something by Batesville would be more appropriate given the probable end of that story.

[Gomer Simpson]

Where did these pictures come from anyway? Anybody got a link?

[Indy Red]

Where did these pictures come from anyway? Anybody got a link?

http://media.armadilloaerospace.com/...ack_apogee.jpg

[Gomer Simpson]

At a cost of $20,000,000 per flight?

Heck if I know. He seemed absolutely convinced it would eventually become THE way to travel, so I would think it would have to become somewhat affordable someday down the road.

I'm not positive what we're looking at is what he was describing, but it sure seems close if I remember right. Does anybody know who I might be talking about?.. Sea Fury?

[Gomer Simpson]

http://media.armadilloaerospace.com/...ack_apogee.jpg

Thanks, there's some pretty cool videos on that site. I guess they're farther along than just cg renderings.

[JSR]

The capsule is all wrong. I think something by Batesville would be more appropriate given the probable end of that story.

Now that is funny.

[R22]

http://media.armadilloaerospace.com/...ack_apogee.jpg

well after seeing that link.......specifically the word
ARMADILLO............

maybe not for me, the only armadillos i see are lying on their
backs with their feet up!!!!

(well 'cept for the ones eating the cat food on the back patio)

[Racemind]

Yeah, that's Armadillo's 6-pack configuration. They now hold hover records previously held by NASA and the Air Force.

Of course, would you expect anything less from John? Guy's a genius.

[Racemind]

And you get down alive... how?

Straight up, straight down. The rockets land you back on the ground.

Thanks, there's some pretty cool videos on that site. I guess they're farther along than just cg renderings.

Good heavens, yes. They're regulars at the X-Prize Cup.

Speedmonkey, go here and click on News. There's photos and video of test firings in John's updates.

http://www.armadilloaerospace.com/

[Sea Fury]

Never gonna happen. Too fragile. If we were talking about using such a vehicle as a poor-man's LM in lunar orbit (no worries about atmospheric entry or control) then it might be different. But in suborbital Earth operations, where you are subject to atmospheric conditions like wind, electrical discharge and other factors during boost and descent, no way.

Rutan and Virgin are gonna be lucky if even they can make a business out of space tourism even with their resources, and they have a MUCH better chance than this rocket-propelled snow globe. A commercial operation has to have a certain margin of safety and this just doesn't have any chance. Even the Virgin Galactic/Rutan combo is going to be cutting it pretty fine.

[Turn2]

If the tree hugging Algore's of the world think I'm killing my fellow man by using a 40 watt bulb than I doubt anyone is going anywhere in a fumemobile like that.

[Racemind]

Sea Fury, the web site describes this as a concept. They haven't rendered everything in the images.