William Shatner makes it to Space

[Bob Womack]

Originally Posted by ruger9

With a notable exception:

And not just on screen. As a lieutenant in the 2nd Canadian Infantry, James Montgomery Doohan went ashore on D-day at Juno Beach in Normandy. That night as he crossed between command posts, he was shot six times by a twitchy Bren gunner, four in the leg and one each in the chest, and right hand. The chest round was stopped by a silver cigarette case. He was evacuated to England and his right middle finger was amputated. What did he do? He trained to fly an Army artillery spotting aircraft, a Taylorcraft Auster, was attached to the Royal Canadian Air Force, and ran right back into the war spotting for artillery across the battle line in enemy territory. But the actor was Canadian.

Bob

[Silurian]

Originally Posted by Kerbie

Why does "space flight" have to require circumnavigation?

Some people take the view that true space flight is putting something into orbit. Orbital velocity is 17,500 mph for low earth orbit, which requires energy on a different order of magnitude to Blue Origin.


I think it could be argued that "true" space flight involves going up and being able to stay there

The V2 rockets of WW2 could actually reach a higher altitude than Blue Origin.

[Kerbie]

I understand the different requirements between getting into space and orbiting. It just seems like a very limiting requirement to set and one that seems essentially arbitrary.

[Silurian]

Originally Posted by Kerbie

I understand the different requirements between getting into space and orbiting. It just seems like a very limiting requirement to set and one that seems essentially arbitrary.

I would say that defining space by the Karman Line(100 km) is more arbitrary. It doesn't coincide with established definitions of atmospheric layers and is essentially a regulatory mechanism.

I'm not trying to be pedantic and personally I'm quite happy to accept that Captain Kirk has been to space. It's just that I do think the "orbital" requirement is a better definition of space flight.

From a practical point of view staying up is the requirement to do anything useful in space.

[Mr. Paul]

[Dirk Hofman]

^^^ Love it!

[Aimelie]

Originally Posted by Eric S.

Glad he didn't see any gremlins out the window during his flight.

You’re pretty cool, dude.

(Not my epoch, but I’ve seen that episode. )

[Dru Edwards]

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

Given that they’re only going up for a few minutes, what makes these Blue Origin flights different from the “vomit comet” rides in a standard aircraft that were used to train NASA astronauts to get them accustomed to weightlessness? That same aircraft was used extensively for filming both “Apollo 13” and “Gravity,” during the scenes where they’re out of their seats and floating around the cabin.

The flight time doesn’t appear to be any different on this Jeff Bezos production: is it different at all?

Just curious.


Wade Hampton Miller

The biggest difference would be the distance above the earth. 106 km up (66 miles) for the Bezos Ship. Gravity flights are around 30,000 feet (5.5 miles). The view would be amazing from the Bezos Ship... I'm hoping they had a nice window to look out. 10 minutes is a short ride though.

[Jeff Scott]

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

10 minutes is a short ride though.

How many $$$/sec. does it cost the rider?

[Wade Hampton]

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

The biggest difference would be the distance above the earth. 106 km up (66 miles) for the Bezos Ship. Gravity flights are around 30,000 feet (5.5 miles). The view would be amazing from the Bezos Ship... I'm hoping they had a nice window to look out. 10 minutes is a short ride though.

Thanks. This is the question I was hoping would get answered, and you just did.


whm

[Rmccamey]

Originally Posted by Kerbie

Why does "space flight" have to require circumnavigation?

To me, up and down does not constitute "flight". I can throw a rock in the air but that goes not constitute air travel.

[Dru Edwards]

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

Thanks. This is the question I was hoping would get answered, and you just did.


whm

Not sure what the flight costs 10 minutes isn't very long, probably spent almost all up and then down. A complete orbit would be fantastic. It takes the International Space Station 90 minutes for an orbit but that's 400km / 250 m up.

[Bob Womack]

As I understand it, the flight costs $250,000 and lasts approximately ten minutes. That would be $416.67 per second.

Bob

[Dru Edwards]

A weightless Shatner. Must be a magnificent view

source: CTVnews.

[ewalling]

Originally Posted by Street Glider

This does NOT look like a 90 year old guy!

Well, in his world a little surgical enhancement does wonders for those 90-year-old blues!