Far away I can still feel the rush from Space Ship One's successful desert landing, completing the first half of its historic mission. It's a Schrodinger cat type situation for the moment; perhaps they will succeed and perhaps they won't, but it's hard not to get excited after such a day and this past June's "dress rehearsal" event. The next few days might well bring a fresh fire to humanity if the effort advances without incident to its final milestone of sub-orbital return. And that fire brings light; not only has invigorating attention been brought to highlight the subject- witness Richard Branson's nascent Virgin Galactic splashed across its brand new flagship- but even as we celebrate today, our glance fleets yet farther to the recently announced fifty million dollar prize for our species' first private orbital flight.

Progress comes at a price it seems, since bringing space to the masses is not easy or cheap. The reputable Russians are having temporary trouble getting their launch schedule in order, after two postponements have already introduced a two week delay in the transfer of Alpha crews. The shuttle remains grounded and might as well stay that way for all the battering the cape's taken from the summer's terrific storms. Even the cranky air maker is acting finicky about making air. Yet whoop! Up go private dreamers and they make it all look so easy. Bad winds? No problem. Nasty roll? Only looked that way.

The next two weeks will also, God willing, bring the arrival of "In Harm's Way," pilot two of Star Trek: New Voyages, toasty if not hot on the heels of the well received first pilot, "Come What May." The previews on this one are breathtaking, and it becomes increasingly hard to jack down my expectations. The countdown proceeds for the expected delivery to an avid audience in early October. Gee, that's just like the departure of the ragtag official trek fleet, which limps off the line in resemblance with the private / public race into space behind them.

What an informative confluence, these two respective approaches to space racing besides each other! (What's the "orbital flight" element in this comparison: The equivalent First Fan produced trek using the original images?) The big boys have been making attempts for several years and still can't get everything to run smoothly at all times. Feel happy for ST:NV and Virgin Galactic, nudging their way to the table with panache and perhaps a small dose of beginner's luck. We shall soon see.