From: joe@strout.net   
      
   In article <42033c57@duster.adelaide.on.net>,   
    Malcolm Street  wrote:   
      
   > Richard Hofer wrote:   
   >   
   > > Of course, who would have thought   
   > > SpaceShipOne could reach orbit for a paltry $20M?   
   >   
   > They didn't.   
   >   
   > What they've done is built a 3-man X-15 with half the original's maximum   
   > speed.   
      
   But more than its maximum (demonstrated) altitude.   
      
   > It's still a remarkable *aeronautical* achievement, but it's a long long way   
   > from orbit, for which (IMHO) you're talking at least another order of   
   > magnitude of $$$.   
      
   True.  But, aeronautical or not, it's a VERY remarkable achievement, one   
   which many knowledgeable people would have said was very unlikely ten   
   years ago.  Moreover, it's clear that Rutan's goals do not end with   
   suborbital hops; he has a plan involving both technical and financial   
   elements, and is already ahead of schedule.  I'm really looking forward   
   to what will come in another five or ten years.   
      
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