Space Exploration

Current space projects:

• The X-Prize was an organization that offered a prize of $10M to the first private venture to build a manned sub-orbital vehicle, capable of carrying three people into space twice in fourteen days. There's a lot of competitors registered, and some of them use very interesting and innovative ideas.
• Two days ago, SpaceShipOne won the X-Prize. Congratulations! "Good job" doesn't quite say it. In case someone didn't know: They flew high (112 miles... that's more than 10% space to spare). They flew promptly (6 days, rather than 14). They flew straight, according to the plan. And they flew safe; it felt safe. And the live webcast, which I watched (part of it, at least) was amazingly high quality.
  So... tip of the hat for you guys. And for the rest, keep it up! The Cup is awaiting!
• The Project HALO was a record-making attempt by an amateur group. Their first attempt at launching the first amateur sub-orbital rocket failed, and now they seem somewhat dead.
• Aspirespace is another amateur group. From the UK.
• The International Space Station, of course. It's already under way, delays and everything.
• The Artemis Project. An ambitious project for exploitation and colonization of the Moon.
• The Spacecub is alive! I got an email in 2001 from Mr. David L. Burkhead confirming the project's status. It is, basically, a real, manned sub-orbital rocket-kit. Yes, build-it-yourself. Very interesting, indeed.
• TransOrbital is another comercial venture aiming for the moon.

Links pages:

• Alex Michael Bonicci's Space Exploration Page. Lots of links. Many more than you'll get here. It can probably take you just about everywhere in no more than two jumps.