The X PRIZE Foundation Newsletter  September 25, 2004
HOSTED BY http://www.xprizenews.org

IN THIS ISSUE:

TOP NEWS

• X PRIZE Foundation Readies For Launch Attempts In Mojave
• X PRIZE Partners with TheSpaceStore.com

TEAM NEWS

• The Golden Palace.com Space Program Powered by the da Vinci Project
• ARCA
• HARC
• Interorbital Systems (IOS)
• Pablo de Leon and Associates
• PanAero, Inc.
• Space Transport Corporation

OTHER NEWS

• Building the Dream:
• Latest Other News

Dear ANSARI X PRIZE Supporters,

Just days from now, well be swept up in the events of the first official ANSARI X PRIZE flights!
What excitement there will be as White Knight and SpaceShipOne launch from Runway 30 at Mojave Spaceport on the 29th and again on October 4th . On hand to witness history in the making will be hundreds of media representatives, thousands of spectators, and millions of worldwide webcast viewers.
The Canadian Golden Palace.com Space Program -- powered by the da Vinci Project remains steadfast in its plans to launch sometime over the coming weeks, as well. So the ANSARI X PRIZE is still very much an international race.
As significant as these events are, we have exciting news to share about a number of other ANSARI X PRIZE Teams, too. Remember that awarding the ANSARI X PRIZE to whichever team succeeds will be just the beginning of a new era in private space ventures.
Imagine having had the chance to watch Lindbergh lift off from Roosevelt Field in 1927, on his way to change our world forever. Join us for both launches--in person at Mojave or via complete webcast coverage -- and youll have a similar opportunity as the X PRIZE Foundation workks to change the future of private space travel.
Thanks to you, our eight years of effort are culminating in an exciting story thats capturing worldwide interest Your past, current and future support is what really makes private space travel a near-term reality, and were glad youre with us to share in the good news.
Whether your visit is in person or "virtual", well SEE YOU IN MOJAVE!

Best wishes,

Peter H. Diamandis
Chairman

TOP NEWS:

X PRIZE Foundation Readies For Launch Attempts In Mojave

X PRIZE Foundation staff --assisted by a handpicked cadre of specialty firms--is gearing up for complete coverage of the American Scaled Composites teaam"s upcoming launches. DEEPBLU Studios (http://www.deepblustudios.com/) in association with Dan Rayburn will be helping to assure live web coverage of the events in Mojave. CarryOn Communications (http://www.carryonpr.com/) is arranging for media and press coverage both in advance of and during all launches. And naturally the entire X PRIZE Foundation Staff --including its Special Operations team--is mobilized to welcome the expected local, visiting, and worldwide audiences. To watch the events IN PERSON, go to http://www.airshownetwork.com/x-prize/ to purchase a car pass. To join the event via WEBCAST go to www.xprize.org and click on "LIVE WEBCAST".

X PRIZE Partners with TheSpaceStore.com

The X PRIZE Foundation has partnered with TheSpaceStore.com to sell launch event merchandise. New t-shirts, hats and lapel pins are available for sale. Click here for more details.

TEAM NEWS:

The Golden Palace.com Space Program Powered by the da Vinci Project

The Golden Palace.com Space Program Powered by the da Vinci Project announced that it has revised its October 2nd planned flight to space in pursuit of the ANSARI X PRIZE. Contributing factors to this revision were availability of a few key components and their integration into the overall space flight program. The Project will provide public notice of its intended flights as soon as practicable under the auspices of the ANSARI X PRIZE, notwithstanding the flight plans of any other competitor. "The flight insurance for the 2 launches has been secured", says Brian Feeney, Project Leader. "We"re still a go for launch. We"ve made milestone progress since the early August arrival of our title sponsor, Golden Palace.com and we intend to prove that Canadians can and will put a man into space". da Vinci

ARCA

A September 9th test flight sent the Romanian ARCA team"s Demonstrator 2B vehicle soaring high above the Midia Cape on the Black Sea. According to Leader Dumitru Pospescu "the measurements indicated 1000m altitude, 630 km/h velocity, and 2100 m range. The Romanian Air Force Command Center specialists described the flight as "Perfect!" The event drew participation by approximately 90 journalists from Austria, Germany and Romania and it was broadcast live on many European TV stations. For stunning images of its Demonstrator 2B vehicle streaking skyward on September 9 go to ARCA

HARC

ANSARI X PRIZE HARC team has been busy in its development work. In recent weeks, the team has made a major reduction in Liberator crew compartment size and mass. The new volume allowed for the crew has been reduced to one-half of the original without compromising crew comfort, safety, or personal flight satisfaction. The HARC Liberator Team has also been flying low cost sub-scale capsule hardware in order to gain valuable experience without risking expensive full-scale flight hardware. HARC is now continuing to make incremental advances with an emphasis on safety by building a new full-scale Liberator capsule. According to Team Leader Don Robinson, "The capsule is to be used primarily as a training aid. It will be used for astronaut training, capsule flight simulation with full motion, and flying all sub-scale and full-scale test flights." The team has also been working with avionics and guidance systems in an effort to select the simplest and most affordable solution to simple sub-orbital spaceflight HARC

Interorbital Systems (IOS)

Interorbital Systems (IOS) is completing construction of its guidance system flight test platform. The flight profile of the craft will consist of lunar lander/DCX-style maneuvers: vertical takeoff, hover, horizontal flight, vertical landing. Flight testing is slated to begin shortly. According to IOS CEO Randa Milliron, "Conducting these guidance system tests successfully is a crucial milestone in our quest for orbital flight. Once completed, we'll integrate the guidance system into our NANO SLV rocket and proceed with what we hope will be the first launch of a satellite by a rocket developed completely with private-sector funding. What we learn from flying the NANO SLV will be directly applied to our manned orbital launch vehicle, the Neptune." Interorbital

Pablo de Leon and Associates

Pablo de Leon and Associates of Buenos Aires, Argentina, recently celebrated the successful final testing of the escape tower system for their Gauchito vehicle. At 100 miles South of Buenos Aires, the half scale vehicle was tested yielding flawless results. Team leader, Pablo de Leon, commented that the "successful separation of the capsule in the event of a launch vehicle failure [was] an important achievement." Looking ahead, a new static test to certify the hybrid engine will take place next month in the Patagonia, and tests of the capsule"s electronic equipment are to follow soon after. Training and water recovery is planned for early next year.Pablo de Leon

PanAero, Inc.

PanAero, Inc. is in the process of adapting its Condor-X concept for the ANSARI X PRIZE venue to a scaled-down aircraft with an extremely low wing loading. This aircraft and its derivatives should be capable of three types of missions: a) Attempting a new altitude record for an aircraft that takes off from the ground; b) Using rocket propulsion to launch a one-ton expendable upper-stage package from an altitude of about 35 km, (its upper-stage package designed to put a 20-kg satellite into low Earth orbit) and c) using turbocharged reciprocating engines to perform various high-altitude, long-endurance aircraft missions at greatly reduced costs. Tour to Space

Space Transport Corporation

Space Transport Corporation"s production of the Rubicon 2 (R2) vehicle is progressing well. The capsule is being fabricated in a Port Townsend machine shop, Reynold Grey Machining. Back at STC"s headquarters, the Rubicon 2 engine assembly is also nearing completion. STC conducted a successful Rubicon solid rocket motor test on the 12th of September. Several quality control measures have been implemented since the Rubicon 1 motor malfunction. The maiden flight of R2 is scheduled for the 2nd or 3rd of October from the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. Space Transport

OTHER NEWS:

Building the Dream:

Adding to the excitement of the Mojave Aerospace Ventures launch attempts, will be a "Rocket Garden eXPo" featuring three full-scale models : GoldenPalace.com/da Vinci Project Team"s Wild Fire MKVI, Armadillo Aerospace"s Black Armadillo, and Suborbital Corporation"s C-XXI vehicles. This traveling rocket exhibit was designed and fabricated by Lexington of Arleta, California. After the launches, this dramatic exhibit is slated to travel to multiple science venues around the country to promote private space education. Lexington has a long history of designing and producing science, children"s, and art related traveling exhibitions for major museums across the United States. The company is also renowned for producing spectacular custom interior and exterior scenic environments and specialty construction for the themed entertainment industry, restaurants, retail, trade shows, and corporate art. LEX-USA

Support Private Space Travel: Become an X PRIZE Member!

The X PRIZE Foundation is dedicated to making it possible for YOU to fly into space. We have already inspired a wave of private spaceships through the generous support of the people who want to go. However, our work is not finished. While private spaceships are now flying, we must continue our efforts to open space to the public. Become a member of the X PRIZE Foundation with your gift of $20 or more and watch your name soar into space! You will also receive our new beautiful and personalized electronic membership certificate, suitable for framing.