So, the Skylon Spaceplane is undergoing testing, and looks promising.

[The Lugz]

Looks like a bullet vibrator (with flaps already attached).

Although everything looks like a sex toy to me these days.

it's probably a good thing, sex toys are well built and designed to be used in hostile environments so i guess the skylon is taking it's inspiration from the right places at least

 

[Woodsey]

Looks like a bullet vibrator (with flaps already attached).

Although everything looks like a sex toy to me these days.

it's probably a good thing, sex toys are well built and designed to be used in hostile environments so i guess the skylon is taking it's inspiration from the right places at least

Let's hope its batteries don't crap out right before you reach the heavens.

 

[The Lugz]

Looks like a bullet vibrator (with flaps already attached).

snip snip ( .. oh dang >.> i made a funny )

Although everything looks like a sex toy to me these days.

it's probably a good thing, sex toys are well built and designed to be used in hostile environments so i guess the skylon is taking it's inspiration from the right places at least

Let's hope its batteries don't crap out right before you reach the heavens.

well, they're smart enough to replace the batteries between uses
and this model will surely have solar panels on-board getting you to infinity, and beyond!

 

[Thaluikhain]

That sounds very impressive and all, but I don't see it happening any time soon.

No, I take that back, they made the Space Shuttles even though from most points of view they were very bad ideas.

People use conventional rockets because they work. They aren't exciting anymore, though. If an expensive, inefficient gimmick is what's needed to get the space program up and running again, fair enough, even if rockets are better in the ordinary sense.

At the moment though, I don't expect to see much money being spent on the space program, when everyone is worrying if there will be another world financial crisis.

 

[Da Orky Man]

I don't know as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra includes synthesizers, so might need a wait on Britannia Rules the Void...

Otherwise, hell yes. The more invested in spaceflight now the better. Got to get off this rock before we burn up too much to pull it off. They're going in an interesting way with the hybrid air-LOX rocket there though, I wonder if it will be as reliable as they think in actual operation. The more changing parts you add in to the mix the better the chance of failure. Good to see their main goal is a reusable vehicle, I'm still sad over the retirement of the shuttle.

They're hoping it'll be at least as reliable as the Space Shuttle, the STTO capability removing a lot of stressed moving parts.

That's... Not very reliable. OK, granted space travel is dangerous, but the space shuttle would be considered a death trap by commercial standards. 1 in 100 missions give or take have been catastrophic failures.

But... Other than that, it sounds like a good idea. Such a huge price drop would be amazing. It would take space launches from. Mind-meltingly expensive, to just, merely quite costly. XD

Commercial space-flight has been around for decades. Evidently, the failure rate is acceptable for the loss of hardware.
Now, as for passengers, although it can carry about 24 people, it's not intended as a commercial carrier. As you said, space travel is dangerous.