SpaceShipOne half way to the X-prize!

The required second flight is scheduled for October 4th. Way to go!

http://www.nature.com/news/2004/040927/full/040927-14.html

 

i gonna be won, i can feel it.

 

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The pilot also said that he cut the engine off about 11 seconds early, due to increasing control issues in the thin atmosphere. It looks like the designers are going to have some serious work to do to take this concept "commercial".

At any rate, they don't seem to have anything stopping them from grabbing the prize at this point. Even with the control problems and the early shutdown, they made their mark today, and they only need to do as well on the 4th.

 

This is bad news. Space is just going to become another playground for the rich and famous and what will we gain from all of this? Nothing. Why can't these brainiacs devote time to solving more pressing issues here on Earth? No fame and glory, I guess.

 

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Spoken like a true Capitalist.

 

It may have something to do with the prize money.

 

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Wow, a real mixed day for space flight history. The X prize is taken, and Gordo Cooper dies....

http://edition.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/10/04/gordon.cooper/