eh, Id like to win but know better

In terms of technology, this is equivalent to the Soviet Salyut 1-5, which were from 1971-1977 and are considered very early versions of a station. Don't expect this station to be manned permanently as it does not have a second docking port (the US station Skylab started out with a second port, although it was more for redundancy than resupply) For those worried about China taking over the US in space, this should reassure you.

Blu-ray schwag desiring post.....

He was better as Romo Lampkin, and yes I am a Battlestar nerd.

And here is video of Branson and the Expedition 18 crew entering the International Space Station:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKyafR6JjAE&eurl=http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4336&Itemid=1

here is the video of Soyuz TMA-13 docking to the station a few hours ago:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVzOrp5vRnw&eurl=http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4334&Itemid=1

For right now crew launch is not yet implemented. Falcon 9 and Dragon are being built with some funding from NASA for cargo flights to the International Space Station under a program called COTS. Manned capacity is called COTS-D, and is of yet unfunded.

Also the use of 9 engines INCREASES risk not decreases. Look up the N-1 rocket if you don't believe me.

Also the image is a mock-up of the Falcon 9 shroud, not the Dragon Capsule. The shroud covers a satellite until the rocket reaches a certain altitude and is then jettisoned.

The Elevator challenge is not to reach for a specific goal with applications. This is not a DARPA Urban Challenge. The goal is to grow the industry and the knowledge base to create a tether which will take a long time. We are at least 100 years away from a space elevator right now.

The ISS doe not have normal internet connection. Astronauts cannot just browse any website that they please. Pages must be requested or prepared for the crew, then mission control sends the packet up on the TDRSS network of satellites. it is more of an internet protocol network, not the real deal.

Argh, its so odd for me to hear these guys mentioned as game developers. I am more used to Carmack working on Armadillo Aerospace, or Garriott hitching a ride to the ISS on the next Soyuz flight. Did you know his father was an astronaut in the Apollo days and flew on Skylab 3?