Arizona libertarians having fun at SpaceShipOne flight

[gonzolawyer]

Michael Kielsky posted a bunch of pics from the space launch - Ernie Hancock just called and the Arizona libertarian crew is back home in Phoenix now. Needless to say, they had quite an enjoyable day today.

The WLA website www.westernlibertarian.org has not been updated yet, but photos below have been uploaded.

Michael's messages from just now:

---

Photos:

New Astronaut Mike Melvill holding Powell Gammill's & Ernest Hancock's sign:

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/spaceshipone/success.jpg

The following are extremely large (about 1 MB, still have to be resized for the web, click link at your own peril).



Sign being handed to pilot:

http://www.westernlibertarian.org/ss1/06-21-2004%20SpaceShipOne%20043.JPG

Pilot holding sign:

http://www.westernlibertarian.org/ss1/06-21-2004%20SpaceShipOne%20044.JPG

and

http://www.westernlibertarian.org/ss1/06-21-2004%20SpaceShipOne%20045.JPG

and

http://www.westernlibertarian.org/ss1/06-21-2004%20SpaceShipOne%20046.JPG

In the hangar:

http://www.westernlibertarian.org/ss1/06-21-2004%20SpaceShipOne%20047.JPG

and

http://www.westernlibertarian.org/ss1/06-21-2004%20SpaceShipOne%20048.JPG

Ernie in the hangar holding a sign:

http://www.westernlibertarian.org/ss1/06-21-2004%20SpaceShipOne%20049.JPG

and

http://www.westernlibertarian.org/ss1/06-21-2004%20SpaceShipOne%20052.JPG
(guess the name of the VIP)

and

http://www.westernlibertarian.org/ss1/06-21-2004%20SpaceShipOne%20053.JPG

CNN now mentions the sign, very last line:

http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/06/21/suborbital.test/index.html

-- Michael Kielsky

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Kielsky [mailto:Michael@K...]
Sent: Monday, June 21, 2004 6:17 PM
Subject: The "L" Factor & SpaceShipOne!

Executive Summary:

After the craft landed, everything settled down, an impromptu "spacecraft" parade for the crowds:

Burt Rutan ran over to Ernie to get the sign, and handed it up to the pilot as they were parading SpaceShipOne. Rutan specifically wanted that sign, as he had already been told about it, it turns out.

Rutan asked Ernie if he could have it for the press briefing, Ernie tells him sure, there are more.

Ernie and the gang later got into the press room, they got to show off all the signs and banners to the national and international press.

They got into the hanger, Barry Hess got his picture taken with
SpaceShipOne.

A stack of the WLA newspapers made it into the press briefing room.

In total, beyond meeting Rutan, it seems Ernie got to meet Paul Allen, Richard Branson (of the "Virgin" brand"), Dennis Tito (flew on Mir), and probably several other Billionaires. The Libertarian messages seemed to resonate with one and all.

Barry Hess is supposed to write a newspaper article for a Florida paper about this experience.

Pictures and a more detailed report to follow.

-- Michael Kielsky
Libertarian Candidate for U.S. Congress
Arizona Congressional District 5
http://elect.kielsky.com

Arizona Libertarian Party
http://azlp.org

This year, The "L" Factor!
http://theLfactor.org