|
Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
|
|
Spaceflight Club For Space Enthusiasts
The Spaceflight Club has been organized by Space Adventures, a private space experiences company.
The club will make sure members get the tools, experience and training they need to be ready for
commercial space travel.
(From SpaceShipOne Landing)
“The dawn of private reusable launch vehicles is upon us. SpaceShipOne is a true triumph, when
ambition, hard work and amazing technologies have demonstrated to the world that anything is
possible,” said Eric Anderson, president and CEO of Space Adventures. “Space Adventures'
SPACEFLIGHT CLUB enables private citizens to work toward their own dream of spaceflight. The Club
is the answer to many who question, now that SpaceShipOne has flown successfully, how can I be a
part of private suborbital flight history?”
(From Space Adventures Unveils Spaceflight Club)
Science fiction fans may recall both the enthusiasm and sense of adventure from the Jules Verne
Classic From the Earth
to the Moon, in which the Baltimore Gun Club (at the behest of its president, Impey
Barbicane) organized its members to send a projectile to the Moon.
"There is no one among you, my brave colleagues, who has not seen the Moon, or, at least, heard
speak of it... It is perhaps reserved for us to become the Columbuses of this unknown world. Only
enter into my plans, and second me with all your power, and I will lead you to its conquest, and
its name shall be added to those of the thirty-six states which compose this Great Union."
"Three cheers for the Moon!" roared the Gun Club, with one voice.
...It is reserved for the practical genius of Americans to establish a communication with the
sidereal world. The means of arriving thither are simple, easy, certain, infallible-- and that is
the purpose of my present proposal."
A storm of acclamations greeted these words. There was not a single person in the whole audience
who was not overcome, carried away, lifted out of himself by the speaker's words!
"I ask myself whether, supposing sufficient apparatus could be obtained constructed upon the
conditions of ascertained resistance, it might not be possible to project a shot up to the moon?
..by incontrovertible calculations I find that a projectile endowed with an initial velocity of
12,000 yards per second, and aimed at the moon, must necessarily reach it. I have the honor, my
brave colleagues, to propose a trial of this little experiment."
Nothing can astound an American. In America, all is easy, all is simple; and as for mechanical
difficulties, they are overcome before they arise. Between Barbicane's proposition and its
realization no true Yankee would have allowed even the semblance of a difficulty to be possible. A
thing with them is no sooner said than done.
Story from Zero G Flights Could Bolster Space Tourism, Research Industries at Space.com. To speak with a Space Adventures' Agent, call 1-888-85-SPACE if in the US, or +1 (703) 524-7172 if international.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 9/26/2004)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.
| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 3 )
Related News Stories -
("
Space Tech
")
Mechazilla Arms Catch A Falling Starship, But Check Out SF Landing-ARMS
'...the rocket’s landing-arms automatically unfolded.' - Edmond Hamilton, 1931
Solar-Powered Space Trains On The Moon
'The low-slung monorail car, straddling its single track, bored through the shadows on a slowly rising course.' - Arthur C. Clarke, 1955.
JWST Finds Bucking Centaur 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1
'... the glittering little rocket bolted to the black iron behind him.' - Jack Williamson, 1933.
First Trips To Mars Announced By Elon Musk
'I had determined that my first attempt should be a visit to Mars.' Percy Greg, 1880.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!)
is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for
the Invention Category that interests
you, the Glossary, the Invention
Timeline, or see what's New.
|
|
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
Mechazilla Arms Catch A Falling Starship, But Check Out SF Landing-ARMS
'...the rocket’s landing-arms automatically unfolded.'
A System To Defeat AI Face Recognition
'...points and patches of light... sliding all over their faces in a programmed manner that had been designed to foil facial recognition systems.'
Robot Hand Separate From Robot
'The crawling, exploring object was V-Stephen's surgeon-hand...'
Hybrid Wind Solar Devices
'...the combined Wind-Suncatcher, like a spray of tulips mounted fanwise.'
Is Optimus Autonomous Or Teleoperated?
'I went to the control room where the three other men were manipulating their mechanical men.'
Robot Masseuse Rubs People The Right Way
'The automatic massager began to fumble gently...'
Solar-Powered Space Trains On The Moon
'The low-slung monorail car, straddling its single track, bored through the shadows on a slowly rising course.'
Drone Deliveries Instead Of Waiters In Restaurants?
'It was a smooth ovoid floating a few inches from the floor...'
Optimus Robot Can Charge Itself
'... he thrust in his charging arm to replenish his store of energy.'
Skip Movewear Arc'teryx AI Pants
'...the terrible Jovian gravity that made each movement an effort.'
'Robovan' Name Already Taken - Elon, Try These
There are alternative names that are probably in the public domain by now.
How Old Are Tesla Designs?
You be the judge.
Is Your Autonomous Tractor Safe?
'The field-minder finished turning the top-soil of a two-thousand-acre field.'
Smart TVs Are Listening!
'You had to live -- did live, from habit that became instinct -- in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard...'
Police Drones In China Would Like To Have A Word With You
''OVERRIDE,' the City Fathers said suddenly, without being asked anything at all.'
Oh Great (Part 2), Fence-Climbing Robots
Please, no stingers.
More SF in the News Stories
More Beyond Technovelgy science news stories
|
|