Fri, Oct 01, 2004
Monday Is The Day
1701 PDT, 09.30.04:
ANN, the official news pool service representing the X Prize
organization, has just learned that SpaceShipOne has been released
for launch this Monday, in the final qualifying flight needed to
win the $10 Million dollar Ansari X Prize.
X Prize Boss Peter Diamandis talked to ANN's Jim Campbell,
within minutes of an official discussion with Burt Rutan,
confirming that Rutan voiced a "95% confidence" in the schedule for
the breathlessly anticipated second launch attempt.
Few other details have been released and the ID of the
pilot/astronaut for the next launch is not expected to be
confirmed until the vehicle is ready to fly -- though it is
expected that someone other than Mike Melvill will complete X
Prize's stringent requirements... a move that Melvill endorsed
yesterday.
"The last leg? No one has announced who's gonna fly it. I'd love
to see someone else get the chance at it. I'm feeling greedy right
now, it seems like I grab all the flights, and I'd love to see
someone else get a chance. The other guys have practiced just as
hard as I have, they've worked just as hard. They're younger, they
have faster reflexes, and they're better in many ways than I am.
And I'd love to see one of them get a shot at it. But of course, if
no one else wants the flight, I'd be happy to do it."
In the meantime, X Prize's Diamandis told ANN that
he "looks forward" to awarding the $10 Million dollar prize. "It is
the proper completion of an amazing dream."
ANN will keep you updated as this extraordinary
story progresses and we look forward to bringing you even more
late-breaking news and photos from ANN's onsite X Prize news team.
More info to follow.
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