OK, not really (and here’s the reference). But he’s trying to set up a lottery, and the winner gets a ticket to ride… to space. Details are sketchy, but my guess is this won’t be active for a few more years yet. But there’s no doubt he’ll still get quite a few takers. Better get in line now!
I wonder if Bart Sibrel will buy a ticket?
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Phil Plait, the creator of Bad Astronomy, is an astronomer, lecturer, and author. After ten years working on Hubble Space Telescope and six more working on astronomy education, he struck out on his own as a writer. He has written two books, dozens of magazine articles, and 12 bazillion blog articles. He is a skeptic, and fights misuses of science as well as praising the wonder of real science.
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May 3rd, 2007 at 6:50 pm
Applause for one of the few people, and even one of the few astronauts, who could get away with it for taking out a moron like that. Go Buzz!
May 3rd, 2007 at 7:47 pm
If the ticket were, say, $100 or less, I’d buy one. They’ll probably be a bit more than that, though. This sort of thing might bring space flight into the range of “uppermost middle class”- but it’s not spaceflight for the masses.
May 3rd, 2007 at 9:54 pm
Maybe Buzz should get in contact with Sam Dinkin, who is already running a very similar lottery (IIRC suborbital rather than orbital).
May 4th, 2007 at 12:17 am
I never get tired of seeing that video clip. It gives me that warm, fuzzy feeling that only watching Bart Sibrel getting punched in the face can give me.
When’s the Sylvia Browne/Neil Armstrong bout? Forget the lottery. I’ll pay good money to see that matchup.
May 4th, 2007 at 3:09 am
Anyone else noticed it should be Buzz giving a RIGHT hook? The video seems to be reversed. There’s a version on youtube where it’s a right hook and you hear the immortal lines;
Sibrel: “You’re the one who said you walked on the moon when you didn’t. Callin’ the kettle black… ”
Buzz: “Will you get away from me!”
Sibrel: “You’re a coward and a liar and a thief!”
But they cut it just before Sibrel turns to his camerman and asks “Did you get that?”
Go Buzz!
May 4th, 2007 at 4:04 am
The animated gif version of the video is definitely reversed. You can tell by the number on the building.
May 4th, 2007 at 4:06 am
Gary, the numbers in the building sure seem to be reversed.
Gotta love Buzz, especially after that “mooning” incident in the LM. That wa true, right? I heard it on the radio, so it must be true.
May 4th, 2007 at 6:37 am
The GIF is reversed, but Buzz is using his left hand, which makes sense, as Buzz is a lefty (so is Neil Armstrong).
I love watching that GIF, it’s at least as much fun as watching Geraldo get hit in the face with a chair - there’s just something about seeing a pompous idiot come face-to-face with reality…
May 4th, 2007 at 7:38 am
The space lottery is an idea whose time has come. After all, the American taxpayer has spent countless billions of dollars over the years sending people into space, why shouldn’t they give the “little guy” a chance to go? They’ll let an old geezer like John Glenn ride (just for publicity) so we know it doesn’t require a superhuman physique.
Having said that, why not bolster international relations and extend the lottery to us Canadians? Please!
May 4th, 2007 at 9:39 am
Bad Albert Says: “They’ll let an old geezer like John Glenn ride (just for publicity) so we know it doesn’t require a superhuman physique.”
The “old geezer” still maintains his Marine Corp/Astronaut aerobics exercises every day. He takes a flight-ready physical every year, just to confirm that he’s ready to go.
Depending on your political outlook, his flight wasn’t for publicity. Some said it was a reward from president Clinton for Glenn’s voting against the bill to investigate Clinton’s illegal activities.
- Jack
May 4th, 2007 at 9:45 am
shoeshine boy Says: “Gotta love Buzz, especially after that “mooning†incident in the LM. That was true, right? I heard it on the radio, so it must be true.”
While I was laughing as hard as anyone over that story, here’s a snopes.com-like explanation why it couldn’t be true:
1) The LM did not have an airlock. This means that it had to be depressurized to open the hatch.
2) The crewman remaining in the LM had to be wearing his pressure suit when the hatch was opened.
3) Repressurizing the LM and doffing the suit (to do the “moon”) and re-donning the suit would take close to an hour.
4) Buzz came down the ladder only a few minutes after Armstrong (I don’t have the timeline in front of me, but it was like 10 or 15 minutes later).
- Jack
PS - Of course, if it was shot on a sound stage in Arizona, the above doesn’t apply
May 4th, 2007 at 10:01 am
Here is a 20 second YouTube clip of the incident. Astronauts rock.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZINbyGKTDg
May 4th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
I can only hope that this lottery, whenever it becomes a reality, will be an international one that we over here in the boondocks in Ireland can also enter. No fair you Americans having all the fun! I also think it’d be a really GREAT idea to start a conspiracy of our own. One where we conspire to let this Sibrel idiot win the first trip…and then we leave him up there. At least he’d be safe from Buzz!
May 4th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
I love Buzz but a lottery isn’t that great of an idea. Basically we have two types of space travelers the mega-rich and the mega-smart (and dedicated). If the lottery was for a small number of seats from a more or less qualified pool it might be OK but for just one seat? Really I don’t think Homer Simpson deserves to go into space. If you want to go pay your dues one way or another; but a lottery for the dumb and the poor for one lousy seat? Realistically we all get vicarious space flight in the images and testimonials sent back.
Watching Buzz punch out Sibrel is so fantastic (the ferocious look on his face is amazing). He STILL has the right stuff.
Neil and Buzz both lefties? So who was the first right handed person to walk on the moon?
May 4th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
I’d love to win a trip into space. The problem is, its value will be taxed as income. I think the federal government, your state of residence, and the state where the prize is awarded are all going to want their fair share.
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I can’t afford the taxes on a $20 million dollar prize!
May 5th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
Crap! I’m going to have to get in good physical condition.
May 5th, 2007 at 5:59 pm
FYI: I think the taxes would be included as part of the prize. Also since the prize can’t be sold maybe it isn’t taxable? Where’s my space lawyer?
May 8th, 2007 at 7:16 am
How about we all buy Bart Sibrel a ticket each, on the condition that it’s one-way?