On the big screen TV that shows the image of SpaceShipOne as
seen from the long-range cameras at Edwards AFB, the steady
arrowhead with its straight white vapor trail suddenly turns into a
rapidly rolling corkscrew. Most of the spectators simply accept the
image as normal, but a few in the crowd, those acquainted with high
speed- high altitude flight realize that something is very wrong.
There is the sudden awareness that the carnival atmosphere on the
ground at Mojave could now turn into something far more
serious.
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.
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