Space Tourism … and Much More
This rocket launch from the Friends of Amateur Rocketry (FAR) test site near Mojave, Calif., nearly wiped out the remote controlled helicopter sent aloft to film its takeoff. The rocket was launched by Paul Breed of Unreasonable Rocket on December 10. Video used by permission of Paul Breed.
Ironically, the helicopter was severely damaged later in the day in an unrelated crash.
Two views of a rocket launch by Paul Breed and Unreasonable Rocket in Mojave. The second video shows a view from a RC helicopter.
Paul Breed
Unreasonable Rocket
Monday, Nov. 23, 2009, 2-3:30 PM PST: Author Michael Belfiore will discuss his new book, “The Department of Mad Scientists: How DARPA Is Remaking Our World, from the Internet to Artificial Limbs.”
Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009, 7-8:30 PM PST: MSNBC science reporter Alan Boyle will discuss his new book, “The Case For Pluto: How A Little Planet Made A Big Difference.”
Friday, November 27, 2009, 9:30-11:30 AM PST : Paul Breed of Unreasonable Rockets.
Sunday, November 29, 2009, 12-1:30 PM PST. OPEN LINES. All topics are welcome. Host David Livingston will make comments regarding space solar power.
Reports out of Cantil indicate that Unreasonable Rocket has ended its quest to win the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge. During a test flight using a crane and tether, Unreasonable’s Silver Ball lander oscillated, broke the tether, and fell back onto the launch pad on its side. A leg punctured the fuel tank, damaging the vehicle and preventing another flight attempt on the last day of the competition.
Continue reading ‘Unreasonable Rocket Ends Quest for Lunar Lander Prize’
Unreasonable Rocket flew its Blue Ball lunar lander on Saturday, but the little vehicle ran out of fuel before it could complete two flights in its effort to capture part of the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge.
Continue reading ‘Unreasonable Rocket’s Lander Flies, Runs Out of Fuel’
Unreasonable Rocket’s first and second attempts to launch its Blue Ball lunar lander fizzled today. In both attempts, the vehicle rose briefly off the pad, hovered unevenly, settled back down to the surface, and tipped over on its side.
Company CEO Paul Breed and his son, Paul, have called it a day in order to make repairs to the lander. The company has additional launch windows on Saturday at its site in Cantil, Calif. The first window opens at 10 a.m. PDT.
Continue reading ‘First Unreasonable Rocket Flies Briefly, Tips Over on Side’
Unreasonable Rocket’s lunar lander goes head to head with a forklift – and loses!
Several weeks ago, it was announced that a Mystery Team (pictured above, in stock photo) had become the fourth group to join the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge.
Today, the identity of said team was revealed on The Launch Pad :
Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge continues to heat up, with a FOURTH competitor now officially entered in the race for the remaining purses. Team BonNovA, stationed in Mojave, CA, will be flying their Lauryad I & II vehicles on October 26-27, 2009 at Cantil, CA. We are definitely excited to see what they have in store for the competition.
Continue reading ‘BonNovA Joins Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge’
The NASAPrize Twitter account indicates that another team will be attempting to win the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge:
there will be yet another team in the running for lunar lander challenge – to be announced soon
There are three teams vying for the prize: Armadillo Aerospace, Masten Space Systems, and Unreasonable Rocket. Teams have until the end of October to complete flights.
Armadillo Aerospace has already claimed $350,000 for winning first place in Level One of the competition. An additional $150,000 prize is available for second place at that level. An additional $1 million is available to the winner of Level 2 and $500,000 for the runner up.
The competition, part of NASA’s Centennial Challenges, is focused on developing lunar lander vehicles that can fly between launch and landing pads. The effort is managed by the X PRIZE Foundation.
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