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SpaceShipOne to Try for Space on Monday

Posted by michael on from the life-insurance-paid-up-i-hope dept.

CommanderData writes "The first piloted private space flight will occur Monday at 9:30AM ET. SpaceShipOne is planning to ascend to the 62 mile (100 Km) mark and return to land at its takeoff point over the course of 90 minutes. With only a pilot (unnamed at this time) on board this does not qualify as a run for the Ansari X-Prize. If the flight is successful they will likely try for the prize soon afterward..." An anonymous reader adds: "Scaled Composites also has this page about the event."

2 of 282 comments (clear)

  1. SpaceDev, the engine designer will reuse the tech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    The technology used in this launch is going to be reused by SpaceDev to put satellites up for only $5 million a piece. This illustrates the direct effect of the X-prize.

    Currently, satellite launches can cost in the hundreds of millions.

    Now if only their were more prizes.

  2. Yes ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Yes ...