(Of course, Rockets don't need “Physical Traction” and that allows them to work in Real Space. But they certainly need Financial Traction in “Cypher-Space”, = $Mx10^6 -- $Nx10^9)!
The announcement that Tulsa, Oklahoma will conduct an Air Show April 24, 2010, highlighted with demonstration flights by the “Rocket Racing League” is very good news! It shows that rocket operations are finally gathering some of the attention they deserve! Those who have attended Northrup Grumman, Lunar Lander Competitions know that Rockets are fun to watch. Monstrous flames, accompanied by roaring noise, have always been fun to watch (from a safe distance!). These features of rocket flights have been augmented in recent Rocket Racing developments. Gone is the nearly transparent flame produced by alcohol fuels. Now long bright flames will be standard – reminiscent of the enormous flame behind a Saturn-V Moon Rocket on takeoff! Except that John Carmack, of Armadillo Aerospace – who makes the Racers new Propulsion System – has developed a way to “seed” the combustion and produce bright Red and Green rocket flames to distinguish specific race competitors.
Oklahoma has had a large aerospace industry for a very long time, and would like to increase it. This state has multiple advantages over California – many of them spelled $$$. Oklahoma has already spent quite a bit promoting entrepreneurial space and rocket efforts. These include turning the old “Burns Flat” military airfield into a Spaceport. It was originally a military airbase, then – with its 13,503 foot long runway – it was a primary base for SAC (Strategic Air Command). Now, it is a licensed Spaceport! I imagine that Oklahoma is negotiating to bring the Rocket Racing League headquarters to their state , and is willing to cut better deals than Las Cruces, NM, which insisted on being paid the promised rent.
In any case, these long awaited Rocker Racer flights will be showing up, at last!
