I haven't written much about the X Prize lately, so I thought I'd give an update. There are now 27 teams in the hunt for the prize
Many of the teams vying for the "X Prize" already have conducted test launches, with one of the two U.S. teams propelling a suborbital spacecraft to 68,000 feet, or about 13 miles.
The contest calls for launching a manned craft to 62.5 miles --100 Km, ed. --above the Earth, which is generally considered the edge of space, twice within two weeks. The craft must be able to carry three people.
I'm really looking forward to hearing that someone has won this thing. Even the "losers" are going to make some important contributions.
Posted by Phil at February 9, 2004 08:59 PM | TrackBackDon't forget that NASA has suddenly seen (a little bit of) the light and is now bankrolling $20M for research prizes as a direct result of the X Prize folks.
With luck that means the Methuselah Mouse Prize admins will have browbeaten the NIA to do the same in five years or so.
Reason
Founder, Longevity Meme
This may be part of the motivation to go to Mars - time to stop piddling around in low orbit...got to stay ahead of the private sector.
If true, this alone would justify the X Prize.
Posted by: Stephen Gordon at February 10, 2004 12:18 PM