What I got to do today..

[Ultra Magnus]

And let me say, it was awesome..

[Ultra Magnus]

And more...

[Kokopeli]

I'm excited that we are taking space exploration to the next level where we have private industry taking some inititative and sending someone into space. If I read the story correctly, this company is trying for a $10,000,000 (ten million) prize, but to get it they must successfully put someone into space using the same craft twice within two weeks. There should be another launch in a few more days!

If you should hear when it is, could you give me a heads up? I'd love to go out and watch the event!

Thanks for posting these!
~Brian

[Sean Dempsey]

Wow.

You recorded a piece of history that will never be forgotten. Man's first commercial space flight will some day be regarded right up with the Wright Brothers, Colombus, and Neil Armstrong.

(sorry... my favorite writes are Asimov and Clarke... I probably find space travel overly important =D)

[Ultra Magnus]

Thanks... I wouldn't have known about it either unless one of the guys here at work made an announcemet last wednesday. It was a blast. Definately an experience to remember.. We (wife and I) were up until eleven last night preparing for the trip, and got up at 1:30 this morning to get ourselves ready... I was sad to drag the kids out of bed at two but it was worth it.

Actually, they need to send three people into space, twice in two weeks with the same craft to win the prize.. It's not so much for profit, according to MSNBC they invested $20million in building the craft! I understand that they are planning another launch in the summer.

I was interviewed by two TV crews, one was for Japanesse television. I was super embarrassed. I choked in front of the camera.. I guess 11,000 people showed up. to put that in perspective, Mojave, CA only has a population of 3,700. Today quadrupled thier population (for a few hours)!!!

The shots themsleves were hard to take. The stinking crowd in front of me (I'm sure the guy behind me felt the same way about me) kept getting in the way. I helped that I'm 6'2" and I really made use of the tilting lens on my camera. I shot some in full manual everything, and some in AP mode.. They could've been better but I'm satisfied concidering the circumstances and my skill level (or lack of it).. But let me say, I saw some wicked bad camera gear there today.. some people had their billy bad-a** cannon's with super massive long telephoto lenses there. One genius (I mean that complimentary) had his tripod on the top of a 6' a frame ladder... Others put thier lazy chairs on top of their suburbans and took full advantace of thier super long lenses from the parking areas..

Anyway, I'm just rambling.. I'm still excited about all the goings on..

[natatbeach]

I didn't know what it was til I read the posts and woke my hubby up to ask him (it's space and technology related---that's accepatable) so I'm excited for you and what an opportunity! you have a wonderful wife(very supportive) to get kids out of bed at that our and go with you...wow---I would have been a beast about it..

[mtbbrian]

You are incredibly fortunate for being there!
Thanks for sharring your incredible images with us!
Broam
WOW!!

[Ultra Magnus]

My wife even surprised me.. I told her what was going on and she wanted to go as bad as I did. Her motivation was more for the kids, even though they don't appreiciate it now, 10 years from now they might think it was cool that thier parents took them to see that. I also have such a cool boss that he let me take a half day off during a real busy time to see that...

[dsl712]

That is way too cool. Glad someone on the board got out there. PR looks like it was well represented judging from the photos.

Dennis

[Speed]

And more...

I would have loved to have been there!!!

I would have loved to have flown SpaceShipOne!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:-)

Cool seeing that they used a Starship 2000 for a chase plane. Not surprising, but very cool. Thank you for sharing these, and congratulations on being able to watch history in the making.

[Ultra Magnus]

Thanks a lot for all of your comments!!!

Here's a link from Scaled Composites website..

http://www.scaled.com/projects/tierone/062104-2.htm