September 21, 2004. Copyright, 2004, Graphic News. All rights reserved

$10 million private rocket ship contest about to blast into space
By Neil Winton

LONDON, September 21, Graphic News:  Space travel for the masses will move a little closer in the next few weeks, when AmericaÕs SpaceShipOne and CanadaÕs da Vinci project blast off towards the stratosphere.

The two projects are vying for the $10 million Ansari X-prize for the first privately-financed space project which can launch three people to a height of 100 kilometres (62.5 miles), safely return them to earth, then repeat the process using the same craft within two weeks.

The Ansari X-prize was inaugurated in 1996 by a coalition of business leaders from St Louis, Missouri, including the credit card company First USA, the New Spirit of St Louis Organization and the Danforth Foundation. The idea was to jump-start the space tourism industry through competition among the most talented entrepreneurs and rocket experts in the world.

The organisers say they were inspired by Charles LindberghÕs first solo flight across the Atlantic in ÒSpirit of St LouisÓ, in 1927, which opened new frontiers for air travel.

The moment of truth is at hand for SpaceShipOne and da Vinci, which have until January 2005 to claim the $10 million prize. Another 24 entries seem to have fallen by the wayside.

First to go will be the favourite, SpaceShipOne, on September 29. SS1 will take off from Mojave Airport, California, underneath its White Knight turbojet launch aircraft. When the aircraft reaches 55,000 feet (15,250 metres) SS1 will dive away from the mother ship, ignite its hybrid nitrous oxide and solid fuel rocket motor, and blast space-wards at a maximum speed of 3,580km/h (2,225mph). By the time SS1 has burned its fuel, it should be 100km above the globe. Then it will convert itself into a glider by extending its wings, drift back to earth, and land back at base. To secure the X-prize, the project owners, Scaled Composites, will need to complete a second flight by October 13. A second flight is tentatively scheduled for October 4, which would leave time for a third attempt before the two week timeframe expires. The craft, designed and built by aviation legend Burt Rutan  is sponsored by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.

Meanwhile, on October 2, the da Vinci project hopes to take to the skies above Saskatchewan, Canada, with its Wild Fire Mk VI design, which uses a helium filled balloon to lift the spacecraft to 80,000 feet (24,384 metres). Da Vinci, which recently changed its name to the GoldenPalace.com (Òthe biggest and best online casino in the worldÓ) Space Project, will drop from the balloon, ignite the rocket, and blast to the required height. The capsule, containing the pilot and ballast equivalent to two passengers, will detach itself from the rocket, then return to earth by parachute. Airbags will cushion the landing impact. Da Vinci tested the balloon part of the project on September 12, and declared it a success.

SS1Õs Rutan says that winning the X-prize is an inspiration, and when the project is operational, he wants to fly three people into space once a week. He wants to buck the notion that only millionaires such as Dennis Tito and Mark Shuttleworth can travel to the Òfinal frontierÓ on $20 million tickets. ThereÕs no word yet on how much RutanÕs tickets will cost.
/ENDS