What's going on several teams quiting XPRIZE?

O.K We all heard SpaceshipOne won X-Prize. But, I haven't heard news from Acceleration Engineering, Advent Launch Services, ARCA Space, Discraft Corp, Flight Exploration, Funtech Systems, HARC Liberator, Panaero, inc., Micro-Space, Inc. What happen?

Are they going to join X-Cup?

I've edited your topic, please do NOT post topics title with all upper case characters and with annoying much question marks.

Ok. No problem. I'm very new here. :):o:D

Let's ask from another point of view:

With no signs yet from Scaled/Mojave to compete for the CUP and still no first launch of the Wild Fire - who is left? And who of the left is in the lead?

At least to be listed:

Armadillo Aerospace
Space Transport Corporation
Canadian Arrow
ARCA
Starchaser Industries (have already moved launch equipment to New Mexico's spaceport)

If Wild Fire has a launch and this launch is successful DVP might to be added on top of the list.


Dipl.-Volkswirt (bdvb) Augustin (Political Economist)

And if FB doesn't fly, or at least put on a reasonable attempt,.. Or at least put forth a plausable excuse for not putting on a reasonable attempt... Or at least blow up his great big ballon, should he still be allowed on your list?

Please look - he isn't on my list yet. And if the condition I inlcuded in my post is fulfilled your "ifs" are not. By speaking of a "launch" I implicitly meant "flight" too - sorry for not saying explicitly this implication.



Dipl.-Volkswirt (bdvb) Augustin (Political Economist)

That's generally a rule for pretty much every respectable internet forum.

I'm still holding out for IL Aerospace. Israel rocks!

agreed!

maybe Scaled winning the Xprize was the equivalent of IBM building computers-efectively discouraging all other competitors on the market

will starchaser be included as operating in the US then? wow that would be great if they built n flew in this then won it not being from the US! have to laugh. Anyone know if this would work?

Also anyone spoken to the other teams to see if they are interested in competing?

I dont wanna sound a bit dumb here but please excuse it im not the sharpest tool in the shed. Surely i would think scaled wouldnt compete, afterall trying to builf for branson, although maybe it will help? Could a space plane realy fly with them or would a rocket have to be used somewhere?

Well Scaled proved one thing other than the technical success, you need to add more money than the prize to win it. Same goes for the new competition, the prize isn´t enough
to cover the costs....

I do not believe the X Prize was ever intended to cover the cost of competing but, rather, just as an encouragement to spur on developement. Which it did.

--Ralph

Micro-Space continues our space launch development. We announced the twelfth flight of our liquid fueled rocket system in September, 2004. We believe that only three XPRIZE teams have FLOWN rockets using even one liquid fuel component: Armadillo Aerospace, Scaled Composites and Micro-Space. We have produced a quantity of liquid fuel motors sufficient to begin manned flight tests, “if and when”.

No practical location exists for test flights of these vehicles. The proposed “Southwest Regional Spaceport”, in New Mexico, is beginning preliminary paperwork (not construction). Only one team (Scaled Composites) ever proposed following “the X-1 development plan”, using only manned tests, and starting with manned glide tests from a mother ship. FAA licensing for UNMANNED tests, as proposed by all other teams, is a very different matter. A location where these tests can be conducted, and where insurance is affordable, has not been identified. The first such site may well be outside the US, and capture this embryonic industry.

While we applaud the X Prize efforts and success, the follow on plan is too nebulous to seriously discuss. Even if additional vehicles can be tested, and perfected, FAA licensing of competitive space flights, with spectator crowds, is hard to imagine.

Returning to our own efforts, our modular approach – now focused on a single occupant – has the lowest total development cost to reach any altitude, orbital, suborbital or interplanetary. Unmanned tests will continue to be conducted, and will provide flight opportunities for those lacking NASA sized budgets.

As this article about one of the former XPRIZE-competitors seems to indicate there may be a lot work going on without becoming publicly known: TGV Gets Serious with Suborbital Reusable Rocket Design
( www.space.com/businesstechnology/080428 ... helle.html ).



Dipl.-Volkswirt (bdvb) augustin (Political Economist)