LONDON, 23rd OCTOBER - Today at the Science Museum Lord Drayson, Minister of State for Science and Innovation, launched The BLOODHOUND Project, a three-year mission lead by Richard Noble OBE to create a land speed record car capable of achieving 1,000mph.
Lots of people were gathering again at the University of the West of England today, people from the University, a couple of sponsors, BLOODHOUND SSC team members, press people … and a bunch of very enthusiastic students. Everyone seemed to be crowding round the BLOODHOUND SSC mock-up which has come along in leaps and bounds in the last few weeks. The occasion was Andy Green trying for size the mock-up of the cockpit for the first time.
Something to see, at last! I was visiting the University of the West of England (UWE) to discuss the forthcoming BloodhoundSSC@University pages of the website, when I had an opportunity to see how the build of the mock-up was going. I couldn’t wait!
Image above: The shape of BLOODHOUNDSSC starts to emerge. Behind is the real EJ200 jet engine, packed away in its case.
Lord Drayson - Minister of State for Science and Innovation - presents at the BLOODHOUND SSC press launch at The Science Museum, London, 23 October 2008.
Good morning.
On my appointment as minister for science and innovation a few weeks ago, I said to journalists that I'd landed my dream job. I made that comment beside a race track in the US, where I was competing in the Le Mans Series sports car championship.
I can honestly describe today's launch as a dream event.
'The Thrust teams have held the World Land Speed Record for more than 25 years, and were first through the Sound Barrier on land. There are no mature challengers on the horizon, so why on earth start another LSR project when the whole country is facing a recession?’
