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Comment Re:Transparency is supported. Pronounciation? (Score 1) 377

It is technically possible but practically impossible, for two reasons: One, it is very hard to get even backwards-compatible extensions approved for addition to PNG. See the failure of APNG for an example. Two, such a change would not really be backwards-compatible, and the files would be named "png" but would not actually open in any current PNG reader. There would thus be very little advantage of adding this to PNG rather than creating a new format.

Comment Re:SpaceShip Two is not a technological dead end . (Score 1) 594

"Microgravity" is irrelevant in this context, it just means the ship is falling. Sure, it's a little bit easier from 68 miles than from 7 miles, but again, that's just the altitude, which is already the easier part. It does nothing to help you gain orbital velocity.

And, rocket engines have not developed that much in 30 years. We are still stuck with the weight-to-energy limitations of chemical reactions.

Comment Re:SpaceShip Two is not a technological dead end . (Score 1) 594

"Suborbital" is a very different concept from "low earth orbit".

"Suborbital" means you don't have enough speed to stay in orbit. Getting to the required altitude is the easy part of getting into orbit. Once you're there you need to stay there, which takes far more energy to achieve.

SpaceShipTwo is strictly suborbital, as is apparently ASM-135.

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