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Personal video screens.

10 (5%)

Lay-flat seats.

11 (5.4%)

Mini wet-bar.

9 (4.5%)

Wi-Fi/Internet Connection.

22 (10.9%)

Great Food.

7 (3.5%)

Wait, this flight will last what, 30 minutes?

27 (13.4%)

Barf bags.

11 (5.4%)

COOKIES!

2 (1%)

WAFFLES!

12 (5.9%)

Emergency EVA suits.

18 (8.9%)

Space Toilets.

10 (5%)

Space Sleeping Bags.

1 (0.5%)

Space Pillows.

4 (2%)

Space Space!

6 (3%)

Tethers for Null-G "bumps".

7 (3.5%)

Duct Tape for AnthroPC's.

13 (6.4%)

Richard Branson sitting next to you.

8 (4%)

Winslow sitting next to you.

5 (2.5%)

Something COMPLETELY Different.

10 (5%)

Gravity Dampeners.

9 (4.5%)

Total Members Voted: 69

[Delator]

I just wonder if, by breaking up with Marten when she did, Dora screwed herself out of a free trip to SPAAAACE.  

EDIT: But then, who would Dora leave in charge of CoD?? 

[soren121]

If anyone wants to try zero-G makeouts, all you need is a significant other and $9900 plus tax. I wish I had both of those.

http://www.gozerog.com/

[pwhodges]

Doh!  I've only just twigged that Socks, Drugs, and Rock and Roll is a Buffalo Daughter track and EP...



Well, isn't Twitter educational!

[akronnick]

SWEEEET!!!!!!!!

[Is it cold in here?]

I hope Dr. Ellicott-Chatham had some sharks to move the lasers to. Maybe he made a gift of them to his ex, who is known to have a shark tank.

[Method of Madness]

You're thinking of friggin' lasters.  Dr. Elicott-Chatham only takes those out on Wednesdays, so the government didn't find them.

[Skaltura]

Seems to be something similar to an X-30 or X-33.

Aww man, now I just bummed myself out, we (the whole of humanity, not just 'merica/NASA) should be beyond this LEO shit by now ...

[starkruzr]

*nitpick* The wings are FAR too large, and the massive upsweep makes no sense.

EDIT: okay, assuming massive improvements in materials science by ECT, fine, the wings could be that big, but the upsweep still makes no sense.

[Is it cold in here?]

And it has no place to store enough fuel to reach orbit.

That is, assuming it doesn't dock with a rotavator, and assuming it's not nuclear-powered.

And assuming that it has to follow rules of physics and engineering despite being a prop in a comedy.

[BigSol81]

Wow, I just....please tell me this isn't deja vu. I've SEEN this comic before! This exact one!

[Is it cold in here?]

I'm highly confident we haven't seen this one before.

[FunkyTuba]

In much the same way winglets help increase lift, the upsweep helps keep the awesome from sliding down of the edge of the wing and spilling off into reality resulting in boredom. This configuration results in massive win generation while reducing suck.

[Method of Madness]

I'd have thought Dr. E-C was powerful enough that he didn't have to listen to the government's demands.

[Delator]

I'd have thought Dr. E-C was powerful enough that he didn't have to listen to the government's demands.

One holds the patents on all sorts of interesting new technologies...

...the other issues the patents. 

[WAYF]

It might just be my imagination, but isn't Marten's shirt supposed to say Gary ****ing Numan or something?

Also, the expression on Marigold's face in panel's 2 and 3 is absolutely spot on. Bravo Jeph.

[AnAverageWriter]

So they're going into space...

In a giant mechanical Snoopy head?

I love this story arc!

[KingofHearts]

Notice how she didn't say anything about it "not" turning into a mecha.

[HiFranc]

I'd have thought Dr. E-C was powerful enough that he didn't have to listen to the government's demands.

And the Government doesn't have to give him (or his representatives) permission to enter American airspace.

I doubt Dr E-C would want his daughter to have to fly halfway across the world to pick the space transport up.

[Akima]

The wings are FAR too large, and the massive upsweep makes no sense.
EDIT: okay, assuming massive improvements in materials science by ECT, fine, the wings could be that big, but the upsweep still makes no sense.

Many proposed "lifting body" designs have had sharply up-swept wings,

as have some more modern blended-wing aircraft and re-entry vehicle proposals, so I'll give Jeph the benefit of the doubt. Personally, rather than a woosy space-plane, I was hoping for a reuseable vertical take-off SSTO using a closed-cycle gaseous-core nuclear rocket (GCNR)! I mean, come on, this is the man who invented the robot hamster! A little thing like safely containing a blazing plasma of fissioning uranium hexaflouride should be child's play! Then he'd be able to throw roughly a thousand tonnes into LEO per launch on something like this.  But perhaps that would be too blue-collar for his daughter, so he's sent the executive jet.

[AnAverageWriter]

The wings are FAR too large, and the massive upsweep makes no sense.
EDIT: okay, assuming massive improvements in materials science by ECT, fine, the wings could be that big, but the upsweep still makes no sense.

Many proposed "lifting body" designs have had sharply up-swept wings,

as have some more modern blended-wing aircraft and re-entry vehicle proposals, so I'll give Jeph the benefit of the doubt. Personally, rather than a woosy space-plane, I was hoping for a reuseable vertical take-off SSTO using a closed-cycle gaseous-core nuclear rocket (GCNR)! I mean, come on, this is the man who invented the robot hamster! A little thing like safely containing a blazing plasma of fissioning uranium hexaflouride should be child's play! Then he'd be able to throw roughly a thousand tonnes into LEO per launch on something like this.  But perhaps that would be too blue-collar for his daughter, so he's sent the executive jet.

Cool looking prototype!

[Blackjoker]

I like hyper happy Marigold. Also Martens comment and expression amuses me. I am oddly optimistic about this storyline..and that worries me.

[DSL]

Is this Hartford, or Boston Logan? Or would Earthport Ellicott-Chatham be in New "Screw the Feds" Hampshire? (Robot Hampshire?)

[Arancaytar]

Innovation fatigue, my foot. =P

She's lucky Clinton doesn't see her right now.

[Border Reiver]

Notice how she didn't say anything about it "not" turning into a mecha.

Damn, I thought I'd be one of the first to notice that little omission.

All the best Battle Titan kit out use projectiles and powerfists any way.

[mike837go]

Panel 1 made me very nervouse!

Where does the pilot see out from?

If this is a fully robot controlled craft, I'm not getting on it. Heinline's "Friday" taught me better than to trust flight to non-humans.

I did laugh heartily at the callback punchline!

[pwhodges]

Where does the pilot see out from?

Concorde had the pilot's window covered by a panel in flight; maybe there is such a panel, but not currently in take-off position (though admittedly the seam isn't showing).

[jwhouk]

BRICK JOKE INCOMMMINNGGGGGG!!!!!!

[tjradcliffe]

Many proposed "lifting body" designs have had sharply up-swept wings

They've got tiny little winglets, not GIGANTIC up-swept wings.  I thought the same thing as others here, and while it's a nitpick to kick at an artist's impression of a '50's-style lifting body, that thing looks positively cartoonish!  Which, uh, I guess kinda makes sense in a comic...

[jwhouk]

Panel 1 made me very nervous!

Where does the pilot see out from?

...What pilot? This is a drone.

[AnAverageWriter]

They've got tiny little winglets, not GIGANTIC up-swept wings.  I thought the same thing as others here, and while it's a nitpick to kick at an artist's impression of a '50's-style lifting body, that thing looks positively cartoonish!  Which, uh, I guess kinda makes sense in a comic...

Maybe the wings themselves move, and we don't see the joints because the wing is covered in a flexible proprietary polymer designed to wick away heat and space radiation?

[Soulsynger]

Maybe the wings themselves move, and we don't see the joints because the wing is covered in a flexible proprietary polymer designed to wick away heat and space radiation?

So, basically, a bird mech?

@Comic:
Why is no one striking an Armageddon pose? WHY IS NOBODY STRIKING ANY POSE AT ALL?!

[jwhouk]

You know, it's kind of a double-brick joke there... But Momo isn't there to answer the question.

[akronnick]

Where does the pilot see out from?

Concorde had the pilot's window covered by a panel in flight; maybe there is such a panel, but not currently in take-off position (though admittedly the seam isn't showing).

The Spirit of St. Louis had a Periscope that Lindy looked through for taxi, takeoff, approach and landing.

The EC-101 probably has fully redundant NSAI (Non-Sentient Artificial Intelligence, the QC equivalent of an imbedded system) control. The Safest Way to Travel

[Throg]

The new backgrounds and new art are pretty cool.

New poll idea: who will show up at Dr. Ellicott-Chatham's birthday party or make a guest appearance on the station?

• Agent Turing (the Agent Coulson of the QCverse)
• Sara
• An allosaurus
• Vespavenger (now under contract to the gov't)
• Hanners' boyfriendbot
• Randy
• Sweet-Tits
• a prototype Shame Orb
• hordes of robot hamsters
• random anime references (a tachikoma, etc)
• the teleporting cappucino maker

/fanboy

[jwhouk]

The new backgrounds and new art are pretty cool.

New poll idea: who will show up at Dr. Ellicott-Chatham's birthday party or make a guest appearance on the station?

• Agent Turing (the Agent Coulson of the QCverse)
• Sara
• An allosaurus
• Vespavenger (now under contract to the gov't)
• Hanners' boyfriendbot
• Randy
• Sweet-Tits
• a prototype Shame Orb
• hordes of robot hamsters
• random anime references (a tachikoma, etc)
• the teleporting cappucino maker

/fanboy

Hmmm... not sure if this would be a winner. Anyone else?

[DSL]

They've got tiny little winglets, not GIGANTIC up-swept wings.  I thought the same thing as others here, and while it's a nitpick to kick at an artist's impression of a '50's-style lifting body, that thing looks positively cartoonish!  Which, uh, I guess kinda makes sense in a comic...

Maybe the wings themselves move, and we don't see the joints because the wing is covered in a flexible proprietary polymer designed to wick away heat and space radiation?

I've read things about "memory metals" that can be caused to change their shape by an electric charge or other control input,  reverting to their "programmed" or molded shape when the input is ended. One of the possibilities mentioned was a return to the Wright Brothers (Wright Bros! Bros! Bros! in the QCVerse) wing warping system as opposed to movable mechanical control surfaces.

Also, view screens for the pilot. Better than trying to make a window and window frame that can withstand reentry stresses.

Also, the good ship EC101 made me think more than a little of the work Mr. Rutan has done with Mr. Branson.

[TinPenguin]

• Sara
• An allosaurus

Now married and trying for children?

[Black Sword]

The new backgrounds and new art are pretty cool.

New poll idea: who will show up at Dr. Ellicott-Chatham's birthday party or make a guest appearance on the station?

• Agent Turing (the Agent Coulson of the QCverse)
• Sara
• An allosaurus
• Vespavenger (now under contract to the gov't)
• Hanners' boyfriendbot
• Randy
• Sweet-Tits
• a prototype Shame Orb
• hordes of robot hamsters
• random anime references (a tachikoma, etc)
• the teleporting cappucino maker

/fanboy

ALL of the above. At once.

[DSL]

The new backgrounds and new art are pretty cool.

New poll idea: who will show up at Dr. Ellicott-Chatham's birthday party or make a guest appearance on the station?

• Agent Turing (the Agent Coulson of the QCverse)
• Sara
• An allosaurus
• Vespavenger (now under contract to the gov't)
• Hanners' boyfriendbot
• Randy
• Sweet-Tits
• a prototype Shame Orb
• hordes of robot hamsters
• random anime references (a tachikoma, etc)
• the teleporting cappucino maker

/fanboy

ALL of the above. At once.

Add Tortura and HannerClone.
Maybe even Meena and Dave.

Padma. She got on the wrong plane.

[Border Reiver]

BTW - Nice shorts for Marigold.

[pwhodges]

"@mcnellyd: you're going to kill off Marten, Marigold, and Hanners in a tragic, Challenger-esque plot twist, aren't you?” YEP

 

[Is it cold in here?]

I look forward to meeting Hannerdad's friends! We have no reason to believe they're human, but there's something special about interesting robot characters.

[Earin]

I look forward to meeting Hannerdad's friends! We have no reason to believe they're human, but there's something special about interesting robot characters.

Just as long as they're not SECRET robot characters.

[DSL]

Jeph has hinted at another project he'd like to get started. I wonder if we're about to see the start of the spinoff.

Or, you know, the world blows up and all that's left are Marten, Marigold, Hanners, HannerDad and the others on HannerDad Station. 

[cesariojpn]

Panel 1 made me very nervous!

Where does the pilot see out from?

...What pilot? This is a drone.

Hopefully not driven by this batshit insane AntroPc.

[Overkillengine]

Jeph has hinted at another project he'd like to get started. I wonder if we're about to see the start of the spinoff.

Or, you know, the world blows up and all that's left are Marten, Marigold, Hanners, HannerDad and the others on HannerDad Station. 

Shh! That's something that would be a fevered dream fanfic material for shippers! 

[DSL]

Well the 'trajectory' (pun intended) of this conversation sent me scrambling to find out all I could about having sex in space.  

If you're curious too, these are the best two articles I could come up with *cough* HERE and HERE.

There's this as well.

And this filk song.

(EDIT:) And this one.

You don't want to mess with Air Supply in space.

[jwhouk]

A Birthday Party at Hannerdad's Space Station! What WILL we see?

Defense satellites. LOTS of Defense Satellites.    - 20 (8.9%)
The 21st Century version of Castle Heterodyne. (Google it.)    - 13 (5.8%)
The mandatory "view of earth" panel.    - 54 (24.1%)
2001: An OCD Odyssey    - 23 (10.3%)
Babylon 2 3/4ths.    - 5 (2.2%)
Someplace a little smaller than the ISS.    - 4 (1.8%)
PSYCHE! It's actually a deserted island in the middle of the Pacific.    - 5 (2.2%)
Marigold will mess something up.    - 21 (9.4%)
All the robots look like Pintsize.    - 5 (2.2%)
All the robots ARE Pintsize.    - 7 (3.1%)
Richard Branson.    - 8 (3.6%)
We never see Hannerdad's face.    - 40 (17.9%)
Waffles don't taste as good in space.    - 1 (0.4%)
Cookies do, though.    - 1 (0.4%)
Mandatory "Something completely different" option.    - 17 (7.6%)

Total Voters: 90

[Gortos]

Heh, I can't describe how happy the last snarky history reference by Marten made me.

Also, blended-wing body space aircraft drawing contest?

[Kugai]

Nice Blended Wing Scramjet Lifting Body

The Maglev Launch Rail is probably just out of shot this way --------->