The downside to Rocket Racing
Paul over at P-12C Pilot has some reservations about the new Rocket Racing League.
- Expensive
This one I was expecting, it's certainly going to be one of the hardest, but hopefully the new industry will help out with this, as it will be reaping the benefits in the future.
- Refuelling
Stops every 15 minutes or so may well impede the flow of the race, unless the refuels themselves become an exciting part of the race. Maybe one of the first technology improvements we'll see will be a faster way to refuel the rockets, making it more fun to watch.
- Sound
What exactly will one of these sound like at 482kph (300 miles) so far overhead? Is it going to be the brooom-brooom of NASCAR, the high pitch whines of domestic aircraft? I like the loud bass, but high pitch I find intolerable. If that's the kind of sound they'll make, I don't want to hear it, ever. Will it even be audible on the ground at that altitude? Can you record the sound in the air when it's rushing past at that speed?
- Excitement
As for excitement, I'm hoping we'll get footage from inside/outside the rockets, not just from the ground. It would also be cool to see digital overlays of the track, across actual footage, with GPS tracking of the racers. Another cool thing that should be possible is a three dimensional track, that's something NASCAR is unlikely to ever have.