SpaceShipOne returns from first civilian spaceflight!

[carnivorousplant]

I think I have a new desktop.

[Exgineer]

@Tuckerfan

View from the cockpit upon approach to landing. Man, I’d love to have been there!

Thank you.

[Tuckerfan]

Here’s one in free fall. You can see the M&M’s!!! Say, now that I think about it, wonder if that’s product placement?

[Tuckerfan]

Ooooooh! Toys! And more toys!

[Tuckerfan]

More sexy photos!

[Cisco]

Thanks Spiny Norman, good reporting.

How far is the launch site from Phoenix and is it open to the public? If they do it again and it’s on a weekend I will definitely go.

[Tuckerfan]

We are GO!

X Prize contender Burt Rutan says his team has solved a control problem that threw its spacecraft off course during a historic flight last month and that the next time the ship flies it will be to capture the $10 million space jackpot.

“That’s a complete, entire yes,” Rutan said when asked whether his Scaled Composites team had gotten to the bottom of a trim-control problem experienced during SpaceShipOne’s voyage to an altitude of 100 kilometers on June 21.

And

But Rutan said his team plans to do more. “We’ll do three flights in two weeks,” he said.

[Cisco]

Given the contest’s requirement of 60 days’ notice before a prize attempt – and the lack of any notice so far – the earliest Rutan or other teams could fly for the cash is now around Labor Day. The prize offer expires at the end of the year.

That means they only have until October to announce that they’re going for the money. One way or another we’ll know soon.

[Wikkit]

@Cisco

That means they only have until October to announce that they’re going for the money. One way or another we’ll know soon.

The rules say this:

@http://www.xprize.org/teams/guidelines.html

6. Entrants must specify and provide the ANSARI X PRIZE Rules Committee with their take-off and landing location, and the date of their launch, not less than 60 days prior to any flight attempt.

They don’t say that the team has to publically announce their plans, just tell the X-Prize committee. Bert Rutan and Paul Allen are influential guys; they could have given notice but asked the X Prize people to keep it quiet.

I guess we’ll find out. I’m starting to consider going to see one of the launches, which would be an interesting drive.

It’s great news, no matter how it goes down. Or up.