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| Private Rocket Plane Aiming for Space Flight Prize |
| 2004-06-19 |
| As the world's first privately funded rocket plane is being readied for a run at making history by climbing out of earth's atmosphere, its builders are already eyeing their next goal: winning a $10 million prize for pioneering commercial space flight. The SpaceShipOne project, backed by Paul Allen, the billionaire co-founder of Microsoft Corp., and aviation expert Burt Rutan, will send a rocket plane 100 kilometers, or 62 miles, into the air and back down again in California's Mojave Desert on June 21. If all goes well, they are expected to announce their next goal after that flight, the Ansari X Prize, which is offering $10 million to the first team that sends three people, or an equivalent weight, on a manned space vehicle 100 kilometers above the earth and repeats the trip within two weeks. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #3 They taxi out for take-off at 0630 PDT, 1530 GMT, and the public is invited. If you are anywhere near Southern California, don't miss it. This could be a passing stunt, or it could end up as one of the most important milestones in human history. (I am not exaggerating, making "the final frontier" real would change everything). Time will tell. Rutan Press announcement Spaceship One FAQ |
| Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy 2004-06-19 8:46:49 PM |
| #2 ...My son put it best: "Freakin' COOL...." Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2004-06-19 10:57:52 AM |
| #1 This is really good news, Godspeed folks, bring it down safe. |
| Posted by: Ben 2004-06-19 4:31:37 AM |