# Poll - Would you ride on an X Prize qualifying flight? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 21, 2004, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-ride-on-an-x-prize-qualifying-flight/251463 "2004-06-21T16:46:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Scuba\_Ben](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-ride-on-an-x-prize-qualifying-flight/251463/1 "2004-06-21T16:46:05Z")
The [X Prize](http://www.xprize.org) 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? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-ride-on-an-x-prize-qualifying-flight/251463/2 "2004-06-21T16:54:51Z")
Hell yeah, I’d go. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![35340](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/8baadc/32.png) [@35340](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/35340)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-ride-on-an-x-prize-qualifying-flight/251463/3 "2004-06-21T17:02:26Z")
hell yes; I wish I had training to qualify as crew, too. ---
**Author:** ![peri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/67e7ee/32.png) [@peri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peri)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-ride-on-an-x-prize-qualifying-flight/251463/4 "2004-06-21T17:11:39Z")
Sign me up. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-ride-on-an-x-prize-qualifying-flight/251463/5 "2004-06-21T17:24:58Z")
Hell yeah, I’d go, but with qualifications. I’d only go, at this point, on Burts ship. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-ride-on-an-x-prize-qualifying-flight/251463/6 "2004-06-21T17:25:15Z")
Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-ride-on-an-x-prize-qualifying-flight/251463/7 "2004-06-21T17:35:40Z")
Lets see: No kids, no spouse. Dog could live with my mom. Yep, I’d go in a heartbeat. ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-ride-on-an-x-prize-qualifying-flight/251463/8 "2004-06-21T19:15:24Z")
Yup, sign me up. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-ride-on-an-x-prize-qualifying-flight/251463/9 "2004-06-21T19:27:44Z")
Hell, I’d go even if they had to strap me onto the outside. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-ride-on-an-x-prize-qualifying-flight/251463/10 "2004-06-21T20:08:06Z")
Hell _no_. I _loathe_ flying, so I’d imagine I hate being inside some giant roman candle. /prefers terra firma ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-ride-on-an-x-prize-qualifying-flight/251463/11 "2004-06-21T22:34:21Z")
> [@slortar](#): > > Hell, I’d go even if they had to strap me onto the outside. Save some room on the wing for me, would ya? ---
**Author:** ![Idlewild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8491ac/32.png) [@Idlewild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idlewild)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-ride-on-an-x-prize-qualifying-flight/251463/12 "2004-06-21T22:41:46Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-ride-on-an-x-prize-qualifying-flight/251463/13 "2004-06-21T23:13:56Z")
Damn straight I would. Who’d willingly pass up a chance to get into the history books (one way or another 😉 )? ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-ride-on-an-x-prize-qualifying-flight/251463/14 "2004-06-21T23:24:09Z")
For FREE? yes. Note that Mike Melvill (ss1 pilot) DID NOT wear a pressure suit. A good thread to start is how much you would pay for a suborbital/orbital flight. (please don’t hijack, I’ll start one) Brian ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-ride-on-an-x-prize-qualifying-flight/251463/15 "2004-06-22T01:14:13Z")
Hell…I’d go even if I knew for certain that I wouldn’t make it back alive. ---
**Author:** ![jweb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/71c47a/32.png) [@jweb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jweb)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-ride-on-an-x-prize-qualifying-flight/251463/16 "2004-06-22T03:11:17Z")
Right now, I’d go in a heartbeat. I’m 25, have no wife or children to worry about leaving behind if I don’t make it back… hell yeah. However, if I had a wife and/or kids… I’d probably still go. But it would make the decision much more difficult. ---
**Author:** ![lynxie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e99b99/32.png) [@lynxie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lynxie)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-ride-on-an-x-prize-qualifying-flight/251463/17 "2004-06-22T07:45:59Z")
when do we leave? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-ride-on-an-x-prize-qualifying-flight/251463/18 "2004-06-22T10:55:22Z")
Hell, yes I’d go! I’m trying to figure out how to talk Rutan into hiring me as crew (preferably pilot) right now - do it for free? You betcha! ---
**Author:** ![ageless6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@ageless6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ageless6)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-ride-on-an-x-prize-qualifying-flight/251463/19 "2004-06-22T12:02:59Z")
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”. yawn ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-ride-on-an-x-prize-qualifying-flight/251463/20 "2004-06-22T14:20:38Z")
Count me in. I call the window seat! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-would-you-ride-on-an-x-prize-qualifying-flight/251463.md?page=2)