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A man hoping to become the first amateur to fly in space in a privately developed craft has unveiled his new rocket capsule.
http://www.ananova.com/images/web/49008.jpg
Steve Bennett, 39, has been building and launching rockets for more than a decade in a bid to become the first man to pilot a privately developed spacecraft into space and back.
His Starchaser firm has unveiled the single seater Nova II capsule, which is being readied for shipment to the US, where it is to be fitted with a parachute system.
The manned capsule is to be dropped from a C-123K transport aircraft at an altitude of 14,000 feet over the Red Lake Drop Zone, Arizona, to practice landing the reusable craft.
Mr Bennett of Duckinfield, near Hyde, Greater Manchester, said he hoped it would take place in May and said he "cannot wait".
He said: "I used to be scared of heights but after skydiving I got out of that. I am just looking forward to the next buzz. I have dreamed about flying in one of these rockets since I was five or six years old, since I saw the Americans walk on the moon. I think about it every single day."
Seated in the tiny one-seater rocket capsule at the Village Hotel in Hyde, Greater Manchester, Mr Bennett said space travel was going to be a "normal every day" occurrence.
He said: "Ten years from now we will all be saving up for trips aboard space vehicles."
Mr Bennett's company has so far spent around £2 million on research and development. He estimates he needs a further £2 million to fulfil his dream.
http://www.ananova.com/images/web/49008.jpg
Steve Bennett, 39, has been building and launching rockets for more than a decade in a bid to become the first man to pilot a privately developed spacecraft into space and back.
His Starchaser firm has unveiled the single seater Nova II capsule, which is being readied for shipment to the US, where it is to be fitted with a parachute system.
The manned capsule is to be dropped from a C-123K transport aircraft at an altitude of 14,000 feet over the Red Lake Drop Zone, Arizona, to practice landing the reusable craft.
Mr Bennett of Duckinfield, near Hyde, Greater Manchester, said he hoped it would take place in May and said he "cannot wait".
He said: "I used to be scared of heights but after skydiving I got out of that. I am just looking forward to the next buzz. I have dreamed about flying in one of these rockets since I was five or six years old, since I saw the Americans walk on the moon. I think about it every single day."
Seated in the tiny one-seater rocket capsule at the Village Hotel in Hyde, Greater Manchester, Mr Bennett said space travel was going to be a "normal every day" occurrence.
He said: "Ten years from now we will all be saving up for trips aboard space vehicles."
Mr Bennett's company has so far spent around £2 million on research and development. He estimates he needs a further £2 million to fulfil his dream.
