Falcon-1 X-Prize Entry Nears First Flight

hpulley writes "With the X-Prize January 1, 2005 deadline looming closer, these announcements are becoming more common. The SpaceX Eagle-1 spacecraft is being readied for a possible November launch, after some static engine testing. There are plans for a larger Falcon-5 with 5 engines instead of one to be launched in 2005. At costs of around $6 and $12 million, respectively, for the launch vehicles it appears that the dream of affordable launch vehicles may finally come true. If you check the manifest you'll see they actually have three contracted and two tentative launch contracts through next year." Well, not quite affordable for everyone just yet, but not a bad pricetag for a millionaire.

Comments

It just occurred to me...

[Kevin Burtch]

The wealthiest man in the world, who tries to take over any market that appears to be about to boom, has not bothered funding his own space flight project.

Then again, he always did wait until a boom had already occurred before jumping in (like the internet, for example).

Heh, 'sides... would anyone actually want to fly on something made by the people who bring you the BSOD?

Maybe it was a good business-decision after-all. ;)