"Steven P. McNicoll" wrote in message
ink.net

The X-Prize competition is a race to be the "first" to
do something that's been done before.

What non-government entity has reached outer space (sub-orbital or not)?
That's the largest part of the "not been there nor done that" aspect. The
two-week turnaround is part of the attempt to demonstrate a viable reusable
craft which would encourage commercialization of the activity.

The goal of the X-Prize, as I understand it, is to promote commercial access
to and use of space with a focus on space tourism. There are private launch
facilities, but none of them are for manned spacecraft. All manned space
flight is performed by government agencies that many consider to be far more
wasteful than a commercial enterprise would be.

--
John T
http://tknowlogy.com/TknoFlyer
http://www.pocketgear.com/products_s...veloperid=4415
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