Snapper
02-10-2004, 15:49
The X-Prize is a $10m prize on offer to the first non-government team to put people into space, return them safely, and do the whole thing twice in two weeks to show that the vehicle is re-usable.
Sounds impossible huh?
It could be won this coming Monday (4 October, 2004) when the SpaceShipOne team go for their second launch from California.
They made their first flight last Wednesday (29 September).
The intention of the X-Prize is to re-ignite the idea of space tourism and affordable space travel, in much the same way that Charles Lingbergh's first ever transatlantic flight ushered in a new era in air travel.
One millionaire is now offering $50m a a prize for the first orbital (i.e. not just straight up and down) private space flight.
Richard Branson has an interest in the SpaceShipOne project and is hoping to use their technology to offer commerical spaceflights soon (within 3 years is their stated aim at the moment).
I find all this quite interesting and exciting.
Time to register www.spacevillas.com John!
Sounds impossible huh?
It could be won this coming Monday (4 October, 2004) when the SpaceShipOne team go for their second launch from California.
They made their first flight last Wednesday (29 September).
The intention of the X-Prize is to re-ignite the idea of space tourism and affordable space travel, in much the same way that Charles Lingbergh's first ever transatlantic flight ushered in a new era in air travel.
One millionaire is now offering $50m a a prize for the first orbital (i.e. not just straight up and down) private space flight.
Richard Branson has an interest in the SpaceShipOne project and is hoping to use their technology to offer commerical spaceflights soon (within 3 years is their stated aim at the moment).
I find all this quite interesting and exciting.
Time to register www.spacevillas.com John!