Scaled

Rutan has mentioned he'd like to win the X-prize in time for the anniversary of the Wright Brothers. That'd be 17 December. Now to win, that means the second flight by the 17th. Taking maximum advantage of the two-week window, that'd put the first flight on the 3rd of December. The X-prize has a 30-day notification requirement; therefore, Scaled would need to announce their attempt on the 3rd of November. Just over 8 weeks away.

Will the X-prize staff make it public when a team files their 30 day notice or will the notice be kept confidential until the launch takes place?

You have to give notice of intent 120 days for launch to the XPrize commitee and they have to approve it. The launch is publicly announced 60 days ahead of schedule unless the team wants to announce it earlier.

Sponsor rules.

So don't be scared of sleeping in and missing history

From the x prize guidelines

6. Entrants must specify and provide the X PRIZE Rules Committee with their take-off and landing location, and the date of their launch, not less than 30 days prior to any flight attempt.

Has anyone heard any word on Scaled? It's been two months now since their last flight (that I know about). I'm getting anxious to hear how things are going. My guess is that they may be doing many unpowered flights to test their repairs and whatever modifications they're making to prevent future landing problems. We may not hear anything until the next powered flight. In any case I'm ready to hear something.

Lepton

Don't think they have made any flights the last 2 months, not even unpowered...
Every flight is listet here:
www.scaled.com -> SpaceShipOne -> Test Updates

I wouldn't be surprised if they make some test flights that they do not mention on their site. I remember a while back, they briefly included several low altitude drop tests where they were simply testing their approach and landing, but all mention of those were removed after they made their next high altitude drop test. Now that they've done a powered flight, I wouldn't be surprised if they fail to mention some unpowered flights that are simply getting them back to where they were before the landing gear malfunction.

Lepton

Even though Scaled doesn't always timely post their flights, Alan's Mojave Weblog is usually all over them. If something quiet happens, I'd expect to see it there first.

http://www.mojavebooks.com/mhv/

It seems scaled is working and testing the Globel Flyer:

http://www.mojavebooks.com/mhv/040224-1.html
http://www.scaled.com/projects/virgin/global.htm

man, that's cool in one way, but then again it sucks when you think that they could be working on ss1 instead......

Anyway I think the paper work is now their real limitation

If Wilbur and Orville had been faced with the regulatory red tape that exists today, the 100th aniversary of flight would be another 40 years from now instead of last December.

--Ralph

I just read that the delays may not have been not caused by regulation, but by modifications to the spacecraft.

From the space.com bulletin boards, one person said:


Scaled Composites is known for secrecy, so I'm not sure if they would actually answer an e-mail, like this reader claims.

Interesting how the latest press release on the home page has the Champ guys with Rutan's bird in the back. Looks like they've already made up their mind who's going to win.

You may be right. But I also think SpaceShipOne and White Knight are the sexiest ships for a backdrop to the Champ race cars.