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In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Christopher L. Weeks wrote:
> In lugnet.off-topic.debate, David Laswell wrote:
>
> > My biggest concern about all of this is where things are going to go from here,
> > since the only real buzz right now is about tapping the space-tourist market.
> > Yes, it's cool that a privatized space flight has finally been achieved, but
> > what real purpose do any of the X-Prize designs serve?
>
> Rutan says he's going for orbit once this step is perfected. I don't think that
> a ten year timeline for that is at all aggressive considering what the last ten
> years have provided.
>
> > When privatized space flights can repair/recover the Hubble,
> > transport construction materials for the ISS, land on the moon, or even acheive
> > an extended orbital flight for research...then I'll be impressed.
>
> Yeah, those will be better. And then there are better yet goals. And after
> that too. But for now, this was plenty impressive.
>
> > I don't think NASA is in any danger of being supplanted by any of the X-Prize
> > contendors or their offspring within my lifetime, since the primary intended
> > market appears to be one that they've long ago declined to pursue.
Merely a stepping stone.
> Well, I hope you're a really old man, or just wrong. I'd love to see NASA
> become a superfluous organ of the state.
Well, knock me over with a feather.
Somebody inside NASA is apparently considering whether NASA should give prizes
too. Maybe nothing will come of it, maybe it was a misquote, who knows. But
maybe???
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2004-06-23-NASA-prizes_x.htm
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