SpaceShipOne to attempt suborbital launch on June 21!

Scaled Composites has recently said that they will attempt a suborbital launch on June 21. If they can launch again within a few weeks, they will have won the coveted X-Prize:


www.msnbc.msn.com...

www.space.com...

Their system, called 'Tier One', employs a piggyback system: SpaceShipOne -- which vaguely resembles a cross between an X-1 and X-24 -- is lifted into the air by an unusual jet aircraft called the White Knight.

This is pretty exciting I think. I'm pretty sure Rutan and his crew can pull it off. Though I hope this won't stop the other X-prize teams from trying too, even if SpaceShipOne wins.

They'll probably raise additional funding so competition will be maintained. It would make little sense to award the $10 million prize and then drop any future prospects for struggling start up space companies..