First Commercial Space Flight

pheloniusfriar has put a bee, or actually, in this case, a medium sized bee hive, in my bonnet...

Very few people witnessed the launches of the first flights by the US and USSR into space, but on the summer solistce of 2004, we have the chance to witness the first space flight by a non-governmental space ship. This is frigging important, and I think I am going to try and be there! pheloniusfriar wants to be there too...I/we would be driving out. I am guessing we would leave Charlotte on the 16th, and could probably stop over in Phoenix to say hello to folks there. Or hit any number of ADF members/Groves along the way...hmmm, need an oil change...But this is going to be awesom...Mr. Rutan has designed a wonderful launch system, and to be there to watch the Scaled Composite's space craft launch into space for the first time is going to be a once in a life time event.

Is there anyone else interested in this insanity?

A few relevent links...

Info from Scaled Composites

Weather for the Mojave Area

Mapquest Directions from Charlotte to Mojave

The return trip from Wellspring

Before I forget...

The Trip back from Wellspring was fairly uneventful. I first of all crashed Monday night at anisodragnfly's place. I then stayed a day to bounce around Pittsburg and see some sites, and hit some stores. It was nice to relax a bit before heading on the long part of the drive. The drive itself was pretty uneventful, except for one incident. I was half way through Virginia, travelling about 70 MPH, and this guy in a red Dodge pickup pulls up so close to me that all I can see is his grill, I can't see his bumper or plates. So I tap my brakes to signal him that he is too close...no response, I slow down then touch them again...no response so I start slowing down even more, figuring that he will pull around me and be on his way...I continue slowing down, and he doesn't move. I gradually slow down to a full stop on the highway. He is still right on my tail! I shout out my window "You *sshole! Get off my f*cking ass!". What does he do? HE BACKS UP!!!!! So, I accellerate back up to cruising speed, and he stays about 50 yards off my bumper, then gets off the next exit.

Other than that, things were wonderful. The scenery was gorgous, and I made good time, leaving Pittsburg around 11 am, and getting into Charlotte about 9:30 pm.

ttyl

How Jedi am I?

:: how jedi are you? ::