Privately funded space flight?

[Combwork]

Having read about Richard Branson's private venture, is anyone seriously working on a private venture commercial passenger carrying craft that could go into orbit, or even further? Richard Branson's craft won't go as high as the Space Shuttle, but like the Shuttle it's designed to be re-usable. Maybe more important, it could give a lot of useful data to help further development. Why wait for government money if seriously rich individuals can fund things like this privately?

It's Sunday. Today I do things in the house, then drink beer and watch TV. And have daft ideas.

[merrylander]

Dunno about the beer but daft ideas aplenty.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by Combwork

Having read about Richard Branson's private venture, is anyone seriously working on a private venture commercial passenger carrying craft that could go into orbit, or even further? Richard Branson's craft won't go as high as the Space Shuttle, but like the Shuttle it's designed to be re-usable. Maybe more important, it could give a lot of useful data to help further development. Why wait for government money if seriously rich individuals can fund things like this privately?

It's Sunday. Today I do things in the house, then drink beer and watch TV. And have daft ideas.

I've an idea.

Have NASA go on teevee and claim that they've discovered a race of aliens on the moon who, while not overly bright, wish to buy a new house.

The bankers and mortgage brokers would find a way to get there within a week.

Chas

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by charles

i've an idea.

Have nasa go on teevee and claim that they've discovered a race of aliens on the moon who, while not overly bright, wish to buy a new house.

The bankers and mortgage brokers would find a way to get there within a week.

Chas

rotflmao:d

[Combwork]

Originally Posted by merrylander

Dunno about the beer but daft ideas aplenty.

Beer doesn't help or hinder; the daft ideas come from deep within :>) But is it such a daft idea that private enterprise could do this? Richard Branson is smart. It was private enterprise stepping in to invest that got Virgin records turned from a single shop in Notting Hill to what it is now. If they see that money could be made doing privately what costs billions of £ to do publicly, why would they not go for it?

Now if the man could invent a washing machine that lets you open the door less than a minute after the drum stops spinning, he'd be up there with Bill Gates.

[merrylander]

Get a top loader, open the lid and it stops the drum.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by merrylander

Get a top loader, open the lid and it stops the drum.

Damn Rob, you washing machine must be as ancient as yourself.

I installed a Kenmore stackable in a former pantry for a woman last year, and it locked the lid on the washer as soon as you turned it on. She didn't like that feature, and I neglected to tell her that that I could disable it due to the fact that it was still under warranty.

Buddy of mine just bought a new washer and he claims it doesn't have an agitator. He also claims it doesn't get his clothes clean, but I suspect that's because they've removed the phosphates from the detergent.

I need to buy some TSP as my dishwasher no longer cuts the mustard. Wouldn't hurt to add some to the washer either. It's a Maytag top loader clone, probably the best washing machine ever made.

It's an Admiral, purchased from Monkey Wards...if that gives you any idea how old it is.

Chas

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by Combwork

Having read about Richard Branson's private venture, is anyone seriously working on a private venture commercial passenger carrying craft that could go into orbit, or even further? Richard Branson's craft won't go as high as the Space Shuttle, but like the Shuttle it's designed to be re-usable. Maybe more important, it could give a lot of useful data to help further development. Why wait for government money if seriously rich individuals can fund things like this privately?

It's Sunday. Today I do things in the house, then drink beer and watch TV. And have daft ideas.

Ummmmmm.....

Looks like "government money" put man into space almost fifty years ahead.
So, I don't know what you're waiting for.

Dave

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by Charles

Damn Rob, you washing machine must be as ancient as yourself.

I installed a Kenmore stackable in a former pantry for a woman last year, and it locked the lid on the washer as soon as you turned it on. She didn't like that feature, and I neglected to tell her that that I could disable it due to the fact that it was still under warranty.

Buddy of mine just bought a new washer and he claims it doesn't have an agitator. He also claims it doesn't get his clothes clean, but I suspect that's because they've removed the phosphates from the detergent.

I need to buy some TSP as my dishwasher no longer cuts the mustard. Wouldn't hurt to add some to the washer either. It's a Maytag top loader clone, probably the best washing machine ever made.

It's an Admiral, purchased from Monkey Wards...if that gives you any idea how old it is.

Chas

The washing machine we bought maybe five years back, a Maytag Atlantis with a big stainless steel tub. Bought a GE diswaaher same day, huge interior but only about 5" of clearance underneath, hookup was a royal PITA.

The new front loaders don't need an agitator they claim they use less water as well.

Can't buy TSP here anymore, I used to use it to clean the electrostatic air filters back when we both smoked. Now all I need to do is vacuum the filters.

[Charles]

Originally Posted by merrylander

The washing machine we bought maybe five years back, a Maytag Atlantis with a big stainless steel tub. Bought a GE diswaaher same day, huge interior but only about 5" of clearance underneath, hookup was a royal PITA.

The new front loaders don't need an agitator they claim they use less water as well.

Can't buy TSP here anymore, I used to use it to clean the electrostatic air filters back when we both smoked. Now all I need to do is vacuum the filters.

Our Admiral has a plastic tub, but after 14 yrs of heavy use it hasn't failed, so I guess it's pretty well made. Other than that, it's a Maytag through and through.

All dishwashers have very little clearance under them anymore, or at least Whirlpools & Bosch...I'm familiar with them. And the other latest improvement is they've removed the brass fitting for the water intake and replaced it with a garden hose type fitting with a plastic male fitting on the bottom of the dishwasher. It's like working on a frickin' RV.

I think you can order TSP from Amazon or buy it at paint stores.

Chas