Rocket Racing League

Heard about the Rocket Racing League? It's an effort to bring NASCAR-style racing excitement to rocket-powered aircraft in organized races in three dimensions. They are still getting organized for their inaugural 2008 racing season, but they are doing some promotional events this year to get people excited. Here's what the site says: "The 21st century's newest and greatest sport - racing rocket- powered aircraft! The Rocket Racing League™ is an aerospace sports and entertainment organization that combines the competition of racing with the excitement of rocketry. The RRL was established by X-Prize founder Peter Diamandis and two-time Indianapolis 500 champion team partner Granger Whitelaw to advance the technology and increase public awareness of space travel. The NASCAR-style racing league features rocket-powered aircraft that will be flown by top pilots through a 'three-dimensional track way' at venues throughout the world. With millions of fans who enjoy racing and air shows, and an even wider audience enthralled with humanity's next step into space, rocket racing is destined to become the future of racing!"

No, You Can't Go To Space

Nothing like having the U.S. Government swoop in and destroy your life-long dream of space flight. Nothing like spending your entire childhood looking out the window at the distant stars, dreaming of one day breaking free of Earth's gravity (well, not technically) and seeing space. This story from Space.com just illustrates the awkward infancy the commercial spaceflight industry finds itself in, where space buffs win suborbital prizes to become astronauts but can't afford to pay the taxes on the prize.

"Brian Emmett's childhood fantasy came true when he won a free trip to outer space. He was crushed when he had to cancel his reservation because of Uncle Sam..."

Random News

Hey, I read a lot. What can I say.

• Army Active Denial System is a new weapon with a 500-yard range that makes you feel like you're on fire. (CNN)
• WOW: Burning Crusade is selling like gangbusters and is the fastest selling game ever (SciFi.com)
  
• You're not allowed to talk at lunch any more (Brietbart.com)
• Amazing Race 11 is coming - the All Star edition. Watch out for those coal miners! (CBS)
  
• Sailing on the QE2? Don't forget your barf bags (SciTech News)
  
• Get ready to pay through the nose for all those corn tortillas - not to mention popcorn! (MSNBC)
• There's the Space Shuttle and the crew of the Starship Enterprise except for Kirk, who must be taking the picture. But why would anyone buy those green shoes? (Geek Crack)
  
• This crazy Spider Ship makes knots and looks like a big praying mantis skimming along the surface. Extremely coll (Tomorrow's Tech)
  
• Fox doesn't like clips of 24 getting posted to YouTube (Hollywood Reporter)
• Watch out - crazy lights in the sky (Charlotte Observer)
• Huh? Eric Roberts to join the cast of Heroes (SciFi Wire)
• These crazy lights are explained - unmanned Russian cargo ship lifts off for Space Station (SciTech News)