Pixel Flies Lunar Lander Challenge Profile
This has been a long time coming, but congratulations are in order for Armadillo Aerospace and their recent lunar lander challenge flight of "Pixel" at the Oaklahoma Spaceport on June 2, 2007. The above pictures are part of a screen capture of the video from that flight. Pixel lifted off of one pad, rose vertically to what looks like about 100 meters altitude, transitioned 100 meters sideways, and dropped down to land on a second concrete pad. Then it was refueled and flown back along the same path to the originating pad. This was a remarkable demonstration of controlled rocket flight by a private space entrepreneur. It seems Pixel is a shoe-in for the $1.5 million X-Prize LLC prize, coming up in October of this year.
Meanwhile, Masten Space Systems continues to progress on their LLC entry, a four engine beast that is a bit like DC-X in look and feel. If not Armadillo in October, hopefully Masten.
posted by bill at 3:01 PM
2 Comments:
Dear Fellow Scientist,
NASA's rocket technology not for real space exploration but here is one.
Sir, don't be dismayed to see how little information there is on the internet. Despite that, I hope you totally understand my need for anonymity. Assuming that the technology is as effective as I say it is, releasing it to the public in all its splendor could make the world think that a) I am off my rocker, b) that I'm completely wrong or c) just some sci-fi aficionado who's gone a bit too far.
Sad state of affairs, but hey, that's the price of true innovation right?
http://nlspropulsion.net
Regards,
The Inventor
If this works, it would be of interest to build a smallish demonstration device. Perhaps something that could be applied to station keeping of either satellites or space stations. Without such a device, I don't believe you'll get many backers. On the other hand, even a small device would be worth quite a bit.
Not to sound too cynical, but to quote the oft-used phrase, "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence" and unfortunately, in these times, a patent isn't necessarily proof of function.
Post a Comment
<< Home