Posted 10/04/2004 06:45:00 PM by Douglas

Looks like Rutan claimed the X prize today, and while not the coolest thing to happen to humanity since we figured out how to fry cheese, it does show some important milestones. Civilians are not only interested in going to space, but they're also willing to fund it. I'm afraid that this isn't the dawn of a new day in aerospace, and the comparison between this event and the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk are way off the mark. But here's were Burt falls off the deep end:

"The big guys, the Boeings, the Lockheeds and the naysaying people at Houston ... I think they are looking at each other now and saying, `We're screwed,'" Rutan said.

That may very well be, but not because of this. They've got a sub-orbital vehicle that has about 1/100th of the capabilities of NASA's latest obsolete vehicle, the Space Shuttle Orbiter. And considering that Rutan has allegedly spent $30 Million (he's not saying) to claim a $10 Million prize, it's not exactly like he's found a way for this whole space-travel deal to pay for itself, either. It's a great start, and quite amazing that he's done it without any government money, but he ain't there yet.

Welcome to 1961, Burt. You've got a long way to go.