X-Prize Take Two: Bigelow American Space Prize

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2004-11-08 09:16pm

50 million this time. But there's rules. More rules.

Linky

Here's the rules..

The Rules:

1. The spacecraft must reach a minimum altitude of 400 kilometers (approximately 250 miles);

2. The spacecraft must reach a minimum velocity sufficient to complete two (2) full orbits at altitude before returning to Earth;

3. The spacecraft must carry no less than a crew of five (5) people;

4. The spacecraft must dock or demonstrate its ability to dock with a Bigelow Aerospace inflatable space habitat, and be capable of remaining on station at least six (6) months;

5. The spacecraft must perform two (2) consecutive, safe and successful orbital missions within a period of sixty (60) calendar days, subject to Government regulations;

6. No more than twenty percent (20 percent) of the spacecraft may be composed of expendable hardware;

7.

The contestant must be domiciled in the United States of America.
8. The contestant must have its principal place of business in the United States of America.

9. The Competitor must not accept of utilize government development funding related to this contest of any kind, nor shall there be any government ownership of the competitor. Usin government test facilities shall be permitted.

10. The spacecraft must complete its two (2) missions safely and successfully, with all five (5) crew members aboard for the second qualifying flight, before the competition’s deadline of Jan. 10, 2010.

Eighty percent reusable? Are these people on crack? Oh well, time to see if I really can crunch the numbers for a MITEE-powered brute..

Drooling Iguana · Post by **Drooling Iguana** » 2004-11-08 09:28pm

Interesting, although I really wish he hadn't included rules 7 and 8.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2004-11-08 11:01pm

Surely that 20-80 rule doesn't include fuel.

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » 2004-11-08 11:24pm

This is gonna be a tough one...

Imperial Overlord · Post by **Imperial Overlord** » 2004-11-08 11:43pm

7&8 don't exclude non-Americans, they just mean you have to do it in the states. It makes verification of compliance with the rest of the rules easier.

White Haven · Post by **White Haven** » 2004-11-08 11:48pm

Quick, dig up your Jules Verne, that entire craft is nonexpendable!

Seriously, this sounds quite nice...six years, mm? Well, I never expected the X-Prize to fly so quickly who knows?

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2004-11-08 11:58pm

You know, I sometimes wonder if we have enough engineers, nutjobs, and dreamers on this board to actually acheive something like this.

Of course, we'd wind up disqualified because we named it the SS GO FUCK YOURSELF.

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2004-11-09 12:08am

SirNitram wrote:You know, I sometimes wonder if we have enough engineers, nutjobs, and dreamers on this board to actually acheive something like this.

Of course, we'd wind up disqualified because we named it the SS GO FUCK YOURSELF.

Does being both a nutjob and a dreamer qualify me as a two-fer?

Damn, I can't wait to see what comes of this...

darthdavid · Post by **darthdavid** » 2004-11-09 12:09am

No. We'd wind up disqualified because we'd beat the shit out of all the other teams so they couldn't compete and end up getting caught doing it eventually.

Alferd Packer · Post by **Alferd Packer** » 2004-11-09 12:09am

SirNitram wrote:Of course, we'd wind up disqualified because we named it the SS GO FUCK YOURSELF.

I'm glad my water is on the other side of the apartment, because that was definitely spit-take worthy.

I personally look forward to the age of commercially viable space flight. It's simply an irrational hope that we'll survive long enough to get out there and solve the mysteries of the universe, and this particular means to that end is quite appealing.

Petrosjko · Post by **Petrosjko** » 2004-11-09 12:19am

darthdavid wrote:No. We'd wind up disqualified because we'd beat the shit out of all the other teams so they couldn't compete and end up getting caught doing it eventually.

Please, we're much more subtle than that.

You overlook the secret weapon we have at hand, one that few other geek gatherings in this world can match... a plethora of highly intelligent and attractive women associated with us.

Any time another team starts getting ahead, we'll just roll out our mock-up model and start washing it, car-wash style...

Victory will be ours.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2004-11-09 01:08am

Howedar wrote:Surely that 20-80 rule doesn't include fuel.

Fuel wouldn't be hardware, a fuel tank would be.

Post by **fgalkin** » 2004-11-09 01:11am

SirNitram wrote:You know, I sometimes wonder if we have enough engineers, nutjobs, and dreamers on this board to actually acheive something like this.

Of course, we'd wind up disqualified because we named it the SS GO FUCK YOURSELF.

SS Go Fuck Yourself? I thought we're supposed to name it the Anal Violator after our Lord?

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2004-11-09 01:29am

Sea Skimmer wrote:
Howedar wrote:Surely that 20-80 rule doesn't include fuel.
Fuel wouldn't be hardware, a fuel tank would be.

Clearly THE GREAT LEADER's reading comprehension is better than mine. Missed the "hardware" in there.

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2004-11-09 06:36am

Quite easy. We just need to get the J93 with the ramjet/rocket modifications
and use that on a modified DYNASOAR testbed.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-11-09 06:40am

MKSheppard wrote:Quite easy. We just need to get the J93 with the ramjet/rocket modifications
and use that on a modified DYNASOAR testbed.

You just miss the F-108...

The Duchess of Zeon · Post by **The Duchess of Zeon** » 2004-11-09 06:45am

MKSheppard wrote:Quite easy. We just need to get the J93 with the ramjet/rocket modifications
and use that on a modified DYNASOAR testbed.

We can fund it by buying the name and blueprint rights to CONVAIR (I think GM still holds them) and incorporating. Then we can win the contest for a B-52 replacement by fielding a slightly modified YB-60 with a new cockpit and turbofans slapped on. The money from that contract can then be dumped into J93s and DYNASOAR testbed.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-11-09 08:38am

Bah, just bring back Orion. No one loves nukes more than the HAB and Shep partnership. We build the ship, Shep builds the nukes.

It's win-win, unless you're a hippy! *Spit*

The Aliens · Post by **The Aliens** » 2004-11-09 03:39pm

SirNitram wrote: 4. The spacecraft must dock or demonstrate its ability to dock with a Bigelow Aerospace inflatable space habitat, and be capable of remaining on station at least six (6) months;

5. The spacecraft must perform two (2) consecutive, safe and successful orbital missions within a period of sixty (60) calendar days, subject to Government regulations;

So are they going to do two orbital missions and on the second one dock for the six months, or just say "We can do it", give some numbers, and not actually spend 6 months out there? If they've got to do two orbital missions in 2 months and stay up for six months, there's going to be some pretty crazy logistical issues, will there not?

Post by **LadyTevar** » 2004-11-09 04:14pm

:;looks at name of company::

::looks at her teabag::

Nah.. it can't be this Bigelow.

If it is, Nit won't sigh at me for buying the big boxes of Constant Comment anymore

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-11-09 04:15pm

He should be drinking Tetley Tea.

Post by **LadyTevar** » 2004-11-09 04:17pm

Admiral Valdemar wrote:He should be drinking Tetley Tea.

Bah. He dont' drink tea. He drinks Pepsi! Why? Because I tricked him into thinking it's the only pop in WV! Mwhahahahah!

Einhander Sn0m4n · Post by **Einhander Sn0m4n** » 2004-11-09 04:20pm

Think a private company can build a MITEE? And can they get it past the enviroweenies who don't pay attention to anything said after the word "Nuclear"?

Einhander Sn0m4n · Post by **Einhander Sn0m4n** » 2004-11-09 04:23pm

LadyTevar wrote:
Admiral Valdemar wrote:He should be drinking Tetley Tea.
Bah. He dont' drink tea. He drinks Pepsi! Why? Because I tricked him into thinking it's the only pop in WV! Mwhahahahah!

I prefer my dihydrogen monoxide, thanks. Yes, I know it's rocketship shit, but I don't care

Drooling Iguana · Post by **Drooling Iguana** » 2004-11-09 04:32pm

Einhander Sn0m4n wrote:
LadyTevar wrote:
Admiral Valdemar wrote:He should be drinking Tetley Tea. :D
Bah. He dont' drink tea. He drinks Pepsi! Why? Because I tricked him into thinking it's the only pop in WV! Mwhahahahah!
I prefer my dihydrogen monoxide, thanks. Yes, I know it's rocketship shit, but I don't care :P

You know that stuff will kill you.

StarDestroyer.Net BBS

X-Prize Take Two: Bigelow American Space Prize

X-Prize Take Two: Bigelow American Space Prize

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