Space Race

Congratulations to the SpaceShipOne team who, with today’s successful launch into space, successfully completed their bid for the X-Prize. I remain dubious about the commercial viability of manned spaceflight. Other than those super-wealthy individuals who want to experience a few moments of zero-g, we don’t have many reasons to venture off-world. Space tourism of any kind is a fundamentally expensive proposition and the only thing that may change that equation is a radical new technology, like space elevators or an ion propulsion system. But prizes like this do encourage innovation and creativity, which could have unforeseen benefits in the future.
I’m going up to Duluth tomorrow to do a presentation with a colleague. I have to be there at 8:30. Which means I have to leave home at six in the morning. Which means I actually have to go to sleep before midnight tonight. But I volunteered to do this, so you won’t hear any complaining from me. For those of you not familiar with these parts, Duluth sits on the shores of Lake Superior in Northern Minnesota. I’ve been there a few times, but my last visit was probably twenty years ago and I don’t remember much of it. It has a reputation of being a scenic city and the fall colors should be starting to peak by now. Reason enough for a day trip.