“So, where you guys from?”
A launch date for a Canadian entry in the race to build the world’s first privately funded manned space capsule will be announced later this month.
“Just outside Toronto.”
“No shit? Hey, Brian, these guys say they’re from Toronto. Is it my shot yet?”
“No, shithead, I’m just standing here holding down the floor.”
The Toronto-based entry known as the da Vinci Project plans to launch its Wildfire capsule into the stratosphere from the airport in Kindersley, a community of 5,500 southwest of Saskatoon, this summer.
“So what brings you to the Kindersley bar? Rigs?
“No. We’re …ah… into atmospheric research.”
“Like weather balloons?”
“Sort of… hey, can we buy you guys a round?
The capsule is to be carried by the world’s largest helium balloon to a height of 24 km, where its rockets will fire, shooting the capsule up to about 120 km above Earth.
“Sure!”
“Up for a game of pool, boys?”
“Hey, bring us some shooters, eh?”
The project is one of 24 vying for a $10-million prize being offered by the X Prize Foundation to the first group to launch a manned reusable capsule 100 km into space twice within two weeks.
“So, da Vinci, what’s in the bag?”
“A helmet. Hey – we need another round here .. Here, try it on…”