Hypersonic Launch: A New Era in Space Exploration

A Journey Through Time: From Jules Verne to Modern Rocketry

Humans have been captivated by the cosmos since our earliest days, with the concept of space travel dating back to 1865 when Jules Verne published From the Earth to the Moon. This story inspired many, including Konstantine Tsiolkovsky, one of the founding fathers of modern rocketry and astronautics.

Rockets, Wars, and the Race to Space

The Paris Gun, a giant siege gun used during World War I, was an early example of space travel principles applied to warfare. Despite its terrifying potential, it served mainly as a psychological weapon. Throughout the 20th century, rocket technology evolved rapidly, with pioneers like Robert Goddard and Wernher von Braun laying the groundwork for the modern space race.

From Competition to Cooperation

As the original space race came to a close, competition gave way to collaboration, with the US and Russia joining forces on projects like the Shuttle-Mir and International Space Station programs. However, interest in space exploration waned, and the Space Shuttle program ended in 2011.

The X Prize and the Dawn of a New Era

In the 1990s, Peter Diamandis created the X Prize to rekindle excitement for space development. This led to a new era of space exploration, with companies like SpaceX and many smaller startups entering the scene and revolutionizing the industry.

Small Satellites and the Growing Space Economy

Falling launch costs and widespread technological adoption have led to an unprecedented era of accessibility for new players in the space industry. Small satellites now make up 94% of all spacecraft launches, and the global space industry includes thousands of private companies, investors, and state organizations.

Hypersonic Launch: The Future of Space Travel

LongShot, a cutting-edge aerospace company, is working on a hypersonic launch system that could revolutionize space travel. As hypersonic technologies become a focus of global competition, LongShot is poised to play a vital role in testing and development. After that, they may help usher in a new economy and civilization building in space.

Join Us on This Exciting Journey We hope you enjoyed this first episode of The Garage, exploring Longshot's hypersonic launch system and the fascinating history of space exploration. Stay tuned for more insights into our potential future in space, and a special thank you to Mike Grace, Founder and CEO of Longshot, for sharing his expertise.