Gizmodo: rocketman

The Rocket Sled that Made Winter Cry

Mark Wilson — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 13:30:00 EST

Ky Michaelson, or The Rocketman as he's known in some circles, doesn't trudge through the frozen winter tundra like the rest of us.

His custom-built rocket sled is modeled after a miniature Radio Flyer. Of course, his features machined aluminum rails, oak planks, front-mounted steering bars, speedometer, and, oh right, a freaking rocket strapped to the back.

But our favorite part of the rocket sled isn't the sled itself. It's that The Rocketman is testing his creation near some families who were probably happily ice skating on that pond before some lunatic Apocalypse Now'd the otherwise tranquil atmosphere, replacing the aroma of roasted chestnuts and hot chocolate with spent rocket fuel. [Rocketman via MAKE]

Fusion Man Jets Above Alps, Probably Looking for Jacuzzi Party

Jesus Diaz — Thu, 15 May 2008 07:17:00 EDT

Godspeed, Yves Rossy, Godspeed! All 180 miles per hour of it, flying over the Alps with your four jets, guiding your carbon fiber and kevlar wings using just your body, and landing with your parachute on some boozetastic jacuzzi party on top of Mont Blanc. Then get drunk like a Japanese astronomer and fly away to the stars. We envy and admire you, Mr. Fusion Man, so here's a song just for you.

[CNN]

World's First Spaceport Designed, Construction Starts 2008

msparkes — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 06:11:24 EDT

You may remember that Virgin Galactic planned to build a Spaceport in New Mexico. Well, a winning design has now been chosen, and construction on the 100,000-square-foot facility is set to start in 2008. Is it just me, or does "spaceport" sound a little bit too sci-fi?

The whole thing is expected to cost a pretty reasonable $31 million, which the company will quickly recoup, no doubt. The SpaceShipTwo and its carrier craft, White Knight Two, will be completed in 2008 as well, so the company is well on its way to offering ~~cheap~~ cheaper space flights. [Space]