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XPrize could be awarded soon!

yeah i read about this... the competition for the first privately owned spacecraft to get into space!

For all metric (and thus normal) people, the latest attempt reached 66 kms, of the required 100 kms needed for it to be classed as a true spacecraft.
 
http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0004556.html

if these are up to date - Once someone gets the X-Prize, the all time altitude record from the X-15 will fall as well. That was only a little over 60 miles.

The speed record might not fall though - the SR-71 is fast (although, the X-15's top speeds were faster) Guess it doesn't count if you're not on a measured course.

D
 
yeah and that was a record set in 1962... so I should hope we are able to build something better, seeing as we have had 42 years to do it! :D
 
Mr. Anderson said:
They set a new civilian altitude record, 40 miles and that's 2/3s the way to getting the prize :D

They haven't mentioned the speed, though - I'm wondering how fast they were going and if its close to a record as well.

Anyone know what the civilian speed record is?
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200,000' is higher than the blackbird goes.

they aren't going to win soon. They have to give 30 day notice to the xprize people before a real flight.

Figure them to give notice early next week though.
 
MongoTheGeek said:
200,000' is higher than the blackbird goes.

they aren't going to win soon. They have to give 30 day notice to the xprize people before a real flight.

Figure them to give notice early next week though.
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the X-Prize requires two flights in two weeks, with 3 people aboard on each flight....and they need to reach a minimum altitude of 62 miles....

These are all test flights - and I'm sure there will be more to come...but its a great start!

Now if I just had a million dollars I could go fly in space next year.....

D
 
Update from their website - www.scaled.com

Launch conditions were 46,000 feet and 120 knots. Motor light off occurred 10 seconds after release and the vehicle boosted smoothly to 150,000 feet and Mach 2.5. Subsequent coast to apogee of 211,400 feet. During a portion of the boost, the flight director display was inoperative, however the pilot continued the planned trajectory referencing the external horizon.
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Amazing that they got that high only going Mach 2.5!!! and 61,000 feet of ballistic ascent, too!

I wonder how long a burn they're going to need to make it to 62 miles...

D
 
To me it is amazing that they seem to be only ones so close to the prize. Haven't heard much about successes from the other teams.

I think that the X-Prize shows that for certain exploration of space that the private sector may be the way to go. Just put a profit motive behind it.
 
JesseJames said:
One question though. How does Burt Rutan find the money to do all this? Each flight has to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
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Not sure how he finds the money, but the end result IMO is true advances in aviation history that is not paid on the backs of tax payers, like the V-22 Osprey that will probably never be a viable aircraft. Or the time and money that Boeing spent on ill conceived leases for a B-767 tanker, while Airbus took and invested the money on speculation.

Not trying to send this to the "Political Forum" wasteland, but the X-Prize is a sign that if you give companies a future profit motive, they will find away.
 
JesseJames said:
One question though. How does Burt Rutan find the money to do all this? Each flight has to cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
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Did you see who was doing it with him?

from the original article.....

Scaled Composites, funded by Microsoft co-founder and billionaire Paul Allen
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As far as I'm concerned, one of the better uses of MS money.

D :D
 
sparky - those are just rockets, no people on board - totally different thing than the XPrize entries....

D
 
Mr. Anderson said:
sparky - those are just rockets, no people on board - totally different thing than the XPrize entries....

D
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At the same point it shows what the private sector is capable of. Which is both good and bad in this day and age.
 
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