The X Prize offers $10 million to the first team to fly 3 people into space, in a piloted and reusable craft, twice within two weeks, and returns them safely to Earth.
SpaceShip One has had a successful test flight into space, in low orbit. (Please see threads in MPSIMS and other fora.) This makes its team the leading contender for the qualifying flights with passengers.
Would you want to fly on a qualifying flight in an attempt to win the prize, and make history to boot?
Let’s make some assumptions:
[ul]
[li]The craft has passed piloted test flights.[/li][li]You travel as a passenger, not as crew. No special training is required.[/li][li]In exchange for the risks involved in riding an experimental craft, you don’t have to pay for the flight.[/li][li]You get to wear a pressure suit, with air, water, and waste facilities. No in-flight beverage cart, though.[/li][li]There are portholes for you to watch the flight.[/li][/ul]
Who would be willing to go on a qualifying flight? Who is willing, with conditions? And who wouldn’t go at all?
Hell yes. But my husband probably wouldn’t really want me to so… um. He’s really risk averse, I really want to get into space in my lifetime and enjoy flight. Oh well.
Woof! If I were thirty five again…Well,not to seem over enthusiastic,but I WOULD track down and terminate every other applicant.
But I think Ranchoth has taken the lead on the enthusiasm angle.To go even though you know you’re going to die seems a bit extreme. I’d want to be able to say,“space?, oh yeah,I already did that”.
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