Rocketplane XP

Does that name inspire comfort and safety? Not to me. I see XP, I think crash. I think Rocketship of Death. I see XP I see vulnerability and rushed construction. Naming your new commercial passenger space cruiser Rocketship XP just isn't a smart idea. Whoever was in charge with naming the ship will have to overcome choosing a silly name like that.

Yes, I know, don't judge a book by it's cover but this ship's name is trendy, makes people think of Windows XP and in 2007 it will be dated. It says that if these folks can't even come up with a name for the ship that doesn't suck, they probably couldn't come up with a plane that doesn't crash.

Have Spaceplane Will Travel

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico -- Reusable spaceplanes that propel ticket-holding passengers to the edge of space are slowly becoming reality.

Among several firms literally hammering away at this prospect is Rocketplane Limited, Inc., an Oklahoma corporation. The company is eager to make space travel as safe, convenient, and routine as air transportation, with work ramping up on their Rocketplane XP design.

The spaceliner’s first commercial passenger flight is projected to be early 2007.

The plan calls for Rocketplane XP to depart from the Oklahoma Spaceport located in Burns Flat and whisk customers skyward to over 60 miles (100 kilometers) above Earth. At that height, a spectacular view is promised, along with "over the top" weightlessness for up to four minutes. The company also envisions transporting innovative scientific experiments and valuable payloads to sub-orbital space and beyond.