Astronaut Brian Binnie Highlights Boeing Veterans Day Recognition Ceremony

The Boeing Company Annual Veterans Day Recognition Ceremony was held November 12, 2008, at Veterans Plaza near Building 100 IDS Headquarters. Host Dave Thomas, Team Lead for Boeing Veterans Task Force, presented an excellent program that included Brian Binnie, pilot of the second flight of Space Ship One, among other guests. Binnie's flight secured the X-Prize for demonstrating a civilian suborbital flight for Scaled Composites, Burt Rutan's aircraft manufacturing operation in Mojave, CA. His message calling for the support of the military forces and the virtues of entrepreneurship in the current atmosphere of increasing government intrusion into American life was well received by most veterans in attendance. After his address, Binnie graciously greeted guests as they approached the platform to meet him.

After the formal Veterans Day ceremony, Binnie spoke to a gathering in the Prologue Room auditorium. He presented a slide show featuring his career as a U.S. Navy operational pilot and test pilot, his civilian test pilot projects, the development and flights of Space Ship One and the on-going progress of Space Ship Two. His description of the coming commercial space flight business immediately grabbed the attention of the audience. According to Binnie, the future of space flight, even into orbital space, lies with commercial firms that have already begun to design the next generation of space vehicles.

He also compared the development of Space Ship One versus the space projects of NASA, noting that Scaled Composites has achieved so much in such a short time, and at such a comparatively low price. Binnie's theme of the virtue of entrepreneurship over government bureaucratic programs was present throughout the talk, with gross examples of NASA waste illustrating his point. However, it must be noted that private companies such as Scaled Composites owe a great deal to NASA for paving the way through the accomplishments of its pioneering space programs. Data and engineering experience gathered through the early government-funded (and cold-war fueled) space race have provided the foundation for current civilian space vehicle development. That being said, the future of space flight will no longer be monopolized by government bureaucracies like NASA.

Congratulations to Boeing for producing such a fine program, and thanks to the employees, veterans and the concerned public for showing your support for this event.

For more information on today's event, and on the projects underway at Scaled Composites, please visit:

Boeing Veterans: www.boeing.com/special/veterans

Scaled Composites: www.scaled.com (go to Space Ship One section)

Aero Experience Blog: http://aeroexperience.blogspot.com/