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Stupidity

by Mike Masnick

Tue, Jun 26th 2001 12:19pm





Private Rocket Launch Is Suicidal

from the this-can't-be-real... dept

In a story that sounds like it should be from the Onion, or possibly a Christopher Guest mockumentary, some guy in the UK is trying to launch a private rocket (with himself in it) into space. Even that doesn't sound too bad, until you start reading the details. The rocket is made out of a converted cement mixer and some computer joysticks for controls. They're not doing any windtunnel tests because that's what their "test flight" is for. He also has no real training for this (of course), though he claims (and NASA denies) that he briefly rode in NASA's centrifuge. His website also claims that NASA is a sponsor for the mission, which NASA strongly denies, and when asked about the guy says, "Er, that might be an exaggeration, I'll look into that". I sense an awful lot of exaggeration, which probably isn't a healthy thing when your into playing around with rockets. I'd say you'd be safer with someone who liked to be a little more careful and exact...

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  1.  
    identicon
    Ed, Jun 26th, 2001 @ 3:56pm

    I predict...

    ...that he'll sit on top of this thing, light just enough rockets to make some smoke and noise (not necessarily even budging it), then hit the abort button, claim some kind of "success" and bask in the celebrity. It's practically Evel Knievel and the Snake River canyon all over again.

     

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  2.  
    identicon
    mhh5, Jun 26th, 2001 @ 5:07pm

    what about re-entry?

    So how do amateur rocket people think they will re-enter the atmosphere? That $10M prize is hopefully not a one-way trip into space....

     

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  3.  
    icon
    Mike (profile), Jun 26th, 2001 @ 5:09pm

    Re: what about re-entry?

    What? You don't think an old cement mixer, some plywood, and some good old fashion duct tape won't hold that sucker together? ;)

     

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  4.  
    identicon
    Ed, Jun 26th, 2001 @ 5:13pm

    Re: what about re-entry?

    Didn't Andy Griffith go to the moon in a cement mixer in Salvage One?

     

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  5.  
    identicon
    Lance, Jun 27th, 2001 @ 12:39pm

    No Subject Given

    I feel a Darwin Award coming on.

     

    [ reply to this | link to this | view in thread ]


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