SpaceShipOne and XPrize

Contrary to statements made by several media outlets, Burt Rutan, at
the post flight press conference, made it clear that the June 21, 2004,
flight of SpaceShipOne was NOT for the Ansari XPrize. Rutan said, "We had
planned that the next flight would be the first flight for the XPrize."
However, because of a elevator-trim actuator problem that decision has
been placed on hold, according to Rutan, for at least two days while they
study the engineering data.
Three rules preclude this flight from XPrize competition: the ship did
not have the required passenger ballast; the required recording
instrumentation was not installed; and, the XPrize Foundation was not
officially notified of the attempt.

With all that said, it was a thrilling event to witness. It made a lot of
eyeballs sweat.

Go Scaled!! Go Rutan!! Go Melvill!! Thanks, Paul Allen.

Casey Wilson
Freelance Writer and Photographer