X-Prize Cup Site Chosen: New Mexico

savuporo writes "MSNBC reports: "The X Prize Foundation and the New Mexico Office of Space Commercialization are joining forces to stage the multifaceted X Prize Cup, a two-week-long event that allows for privately financed, passenger-carrying space vehicles to compete for prizes.' The first Cup is expected to be held summer, 2006, while 2005 will probably see a 'Public Spaceflight Exposition.'"

Comments

safety factors?

[complete loony]

"We expect to draw hundreds of thousands of people from around the world to a single Spaceport".

Um, ok. and they'll all stand nearby while high powered rockets, designed and built by just about anybody, take off and land... mmmmm that sounds safe.

I hope the viewing area is as far away as during shuttle launches.

Seriously, should we be considering something like this yet? with passengers and spectators?

makes sense

[Anonymous Coward]

Makes sense, considering that Goddard was launching sophisticated liquid-fueled rockets outside of Roswell prior to World War 2, and of course, White Sands Missile Range is also in New Mexico. Also, New Mexico is (imho) the most beautiful state in the United States, but also one of the poorest. It needs a boost like this.

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SKYKING, SKYKING, DO NOT ANSWER

100 kilometres up is not orbital!

[Goonie]

While building an X-Prize class of vehicle is an impressive achievement, it's a long, long way from putting somebody into orbit and retrieving them again. You require a hell of a lot more thrust to put somebody into orbit, the heat shielding requirements for the way down are much tougher, and you've got to be able to maintain life support for at least several hours rather than a few minutes.