[jballanc]

Agreed. Them and Virgin Galactic seem like they're the next logical step. I'm especially excited because they have the opportunity to succeed where the supersonic jetliners failed: Imagine if any spot on the globe was within 2 hrs travel time...

[brc]

I wonder, though, if the same problems will apply : high per-passenger-mile costs and restricted takeoff/landing sites. Eventually the Concorde overcame the per-passenger-mile costs but they could never evade the takeoff and landing restrictions. If they had flown the LA/NY route it would have been much more successful. I can see any type of space transportation coming across the same issues.

[iwr]

While flying twice as high as passanger aircraft, the sonic boom would still be a problem with the Concorde. The restriction would be greatly reduced with a suborbital plane, which cruises outside the atmosphere.

[jballanc]

This. There are some real benefits to not having to fly through air the whole way.