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Ansari X Prize

 

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Ansari X Prize


 
 

The Ansari X PRIZE was a space competitionSpace competition

A space competition is an offer of a prize to be given to the first competitor who demonstrates a space vehicle, or a space ...
 in which the X PRIZE FoundationX PRIZE Foundation

The X Prize Foundation is a non-profit prize institute based in Saint Louis, Missouri....
 offered a US$United States dollar

For details of current paper money and coins, see Federal Reserve Note and United States coinage....
10,000,000 prizeFacts About Prize

A prize is an award given to a person or a group of people to recognise and reward actions or achievements....
 for the first non-government organizationNon-governmental organization Overview

The term non-governmental organization is used in a variety of ways all over the world and, depending on the context in whi...
 to launch a reusable manned spacecraft into spaceOuter space

Outer space, also simply called space, refers to the relatively empty regions of the universe outside the atmospheres of...
 twice within two weeks. It was modeled after early 20th-century aviationAviation

Aviation refers to flying using aircraft, machines designed by humans for atmospheric flight....
 prizes, and aimed to spur development of low-cost spaceflight. The prize was won on October 4 2004, the 47th anniversary of the Sputnik 1Sputnik 1

Sputnik 1 was the first artificial satellite to be put into orbit, on October 4, 1957....
 launch, by the Tier OneTier One

Tier One is Scaled Composites' program of suborbital human spaceflight using the reusable spacecraft SpaceShipOne and its la...
 project designed by Burt Rutan and financed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, using the experimental spaceplaneFacts About Spaceplane

A spaceplane is a rocket plane designed to pass the edge of space....
 SpaceShipOneSpaceShipOne

Scaled Composites Model 316 SpaceShipOne completed the first privately-funded human spaceflight on June 21, 2004....
. $10 million was awarded to the winner, but more than $100 million was invested in new technologies in pursuit of the prize.

The second X PRIZE, the Archon X PRIZEArchon X Prize

The Archon X PRIZE for Genomics, the second X PRIZE to be offered by the X PRIZE Foundation, based in Santa Monica, Californ...
, was announced in October 2006 by the X PRIZE Foundation.
The third X Prize, the Automotive X PrizeFacts About Automotive X Prize

The Automotive X Prize is the next X Prize from the X Prize Foundation, following the inaugural Ansari X Prize....
, was announced shortly thereafter.
The fourth X Prize, the Google Lunar X PrizeGoogle Lunar X Prize

The Google Lunar X PRIZE, sometimes referred to as simply Moon 2.0, is a space competition organized by the X PRIZE Foundati...
, was announced in September 2007.

Motivation

The X PRIZE was first proposed by Dr. Peter DiamandisPeter Diamandis

Peter H. Diamandis is considered a key American figure in the development of the personal spaceflight industry, having creat...
 in an address to the NSSNational Space Society

The National Space Society is an international nonprofit 501, educational, and scientific organization specializing in space...
 International Space Development ConferenceInternational Space Development Conference

The International Space Development Conference is the annual conference of the National Space Society....
 in 1995. The competition goal was adopted from the SpaceCubSpaceCub

SpaceCub was a design project for a homebuilt rocket....
 project, demonstration of a private vehicle capable of flying a pilot to the edge of space, defined as 100 km altitude. This goal was selected to help encourage the space industry in the private sectorPrivate sector

The private sector of a nation's economy consists of those entities which are not controlled by the state - i.e., a variety ...
, which is why the entries were not allowed to have any government funding. It aimed to demonstrate that spaceflightSpaceflight

Spaceflight is the use of space technology to fly a spacecraft into and through outer space....
 can be affordable and accessible to corporations and civilians, opening the door to commercial spaceflightPrivate spaceflight

Private spaceflight is a flight beyond Earth's atmosphere conducted by an entity other than a government....
 and space tourismSpace tourism

Space tourism is the recent phenomenon of space travel by individuals for the purpose of personal pleasure....
. It is also hoped that competition will breed innovationInnovation

The classic definitions of innovation include:...
, introducing new low-cost methods of reaching Earth orbitEarth orbit

Earth orbit is an orbit around the planet Earth....
, and ultimately pioneering low-cost space travelSpaceflight

Spaceflight is the use of space technology to fly a spacecraft into and through outer space....
 and unfettered human expansionSpace colonization

Space colonization, also called space settlement and space humanization, is the concept of permanent autonomous ...
 into the solar systemSolar System

The Solar System or solar system is the stellar system comprising the Sun and the retinue of celestial objects gravita...
.
The X PRIZE was modeled after many prizes from the early 20th century that helped prod the development of air flightFlight

Flight is the process by which a heavier-than-air animal or object achieves sustained movement either through the air by aer...
, including most notably the $25,000 Orteig PrizeOrteig Prize

The Orteig Prize was a $25,000 reward offered in 1919 by hotel owner Raymond Orteig to the first allied aviator to fly non-s...
 that spurred Charles LindberghCharles Lindbergh

Charles Augustus Lindbergh, Jr., known as "Lucky Lindy" and "The Lone Eagle", was an American aviator famous for piloting th...
 to make his solo flight across the Atlantic OceanAtlantic Ocean

The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest ocean, covering approximately one-fifth of the Earth's surface....
. NASANASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an agency of the United States Government, responsible for the nation'...
 is developing a similar prize program called Centennial ChallengesCentennial Challenges

The Centennial Challenges are NASA inducement prize contests for non-government-funded technological achievements by America...
 to generate innovative solutions to space technologySpace technology

Space technology is a term that is often treated as a category....
 problems.

Created in May 1996 and initially called just "X PRIZE", it was renamed "Ansari X PRIZE" on May 6, 2004 following a multi-million dollar donationDonation

You may be on this page because you want to donate to the Wikimedia Foundation....
 from entrepreneurEntrepreneur

An entrepreneur is a person who undertakes and operates a new enterprise or venture and assumes some accountability for the...
s Anousheh AnsariAnousheh Ansari

Anousheh Ansari is the Iranian-American co-founder and chairman of Prodea Systems, Inc....
 and Amir AnsariAmir Ansari

Amir Ansari is co-founder of venture capital firm Prodea....
.

Contestants

Twenty-six teams from around the world participated, ranging from volunteer hobbyists to large corporate-backed operations:
  • Acceleration Engineering
  • Aeronautics and Cosmonautics Romanian Association
  • Armadillo AerospaceFacts About Armadillo Aerospace

    Armadillo Aerospace is an aerospace startup company based in Mesquite, Texas....
  • Canadian ArrowCanadian Arrow

    The Canadian Arrow is a privately funded rocket and space travel project founded by London, Ontario, Canada entrepreneur Geo...
  • The da Vinci ProjectDa Vinci Project

    The da Vinci Project is a privately-funded, volunteer-staffed attempt to launch a reusable manned suborbital spacecraft....
  • Discraft Corporation
  • Flight Exploration
  • Fundamental Technology SystemsFundamental Technology Systems

    Fundament Technology Systems, Inc. is a small technical services company in Orlando, FL, and was also the 23rd entrant to th...
  • (now Rocketplane KistlerRocketplane Limited, Inc.

    Rocketplane Limited, Inc. is an aerospace design and development company headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with faci...
    )
  • Scaled CompositesScaled Composites

    Scaled Composites, formerly the Rutan Aircraft Factory, is located at the Mojave Spaceport, Mojave, California and is ...
    ' Tier OneTier One

    Tier One is Scaled Composites' program of suborbital human spaceflight using the reusable spacecraft SpaceShipOne and its la...
     project (Winning Team)
  • Space Transport CorporationSpace Transport Corporation

    Space Transport Corporation, or STC, is a company based in Forks, Washington whose goal is to commercialize space....
  • Starchaser IndustriesStarchaser Industries

    Starchaser Industries is a British company headed by CEO Steve Bennett, working on the development of rockets for commercial...
  • Suborbital Corporation
  • Vanguard Spacecraft
  • Whalen Aeronautics Inc.


This contestant list notably did not include traditional space access companies like BoeingBoeing

The Boeing Company is an aerospace and defense corporation headquartered in Chicago, Illinois....
 and LockheedLockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin is a leading aerospace manufacturer and advanced technology company formed in 1995 by the merger of Lockhee...
, which many in the industry believe to be incapable of replacing their present space transportSpace transport

Currently, the most common technology for space transport is rocket propulsion, which expels matter to provide a net forward...
ation vehicles with low-cost alternatives. These critics claim as evidence the companies' several failed attempts to do so, such as the X-33 project, on contract from NASANASA

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an agency of the United States Government, responsible for the nation'...
 and other U.S.United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., and America, is...
 government agencies. However, the X PRIZE Foundation itself did not ban these companies from applying, so long as they could prove their efforts on this project would be free of government funding.

Competition status

The Tier OneTier One

Tier One is Scaled Composites' program of suborbital human spaceflight using the reusable spacecraft SpaceShipOne and its la...
 project made two successful competitive flights, X1SpaceShipOne flight 16P

Flight 16P of SpaceShipOne was a spaceflight in the Tier One program that took place on September 29 2004....
 on September 29 2004 piloted by Mike MelvillMike Melvill Summary

Michael Winston "Mike" Melvill is one of the test pilots for SpaceShipOne, the experimental spaceplane developed by Scaled C...
 and X2SpaceShipOne flight 17P

Flight 17P of SpaceShipOne was a spaceflight in the Tier One program that took place on October 4 2004....
 on October 4 2004 piloted by Brian BinnieBrian Binnie

William Brian Binnie is one of the test pilots for SpaceShipOne, the experimental spaceplane developed by Scaled Composites....
. They thus won the prize, which was awarded on November 6 2004. (Note: the winning team is referred to by several names at various times: Tier OneTier One

Tier One is Scaled Composites' program of suborbital human spaceflight using the reusable spacecraft SpaceShipOne and its la...
, Scaled CompositesFacts About Scaled Composites

Scaled Composites, formerly the Rutan Aircraft Factory, is located at the Mojave Spaceport, Mojave, California and is ...
, and Mojave Aerospace VenturesMojave Aerospace Ventures Summary

Mojave Aerospace Ventures is a company founded by Paul Allen and Burt Rutan to handle the commercial spinoffs from the Tier ...
.)

The trophy is currently on display in the St. Louis Science CenterSt. Louis Science Center

The St. Louis Science Center is a science museum with its facilities in St....
 in St.Louis,Missouri.

Flight attempts by teams that did not win

Although only the Tier One team actually launched a spacecraft into suborbital space, several other teams have conducted low-altitude tests or announced future plans to launch into space:
  • The da Vinci ProjectDa Vinci Project

    The da Vinci Project is a privately-funded, volunteer-staffed attempt to launch a reusable manned suborbital spacecraft....
     originally announced that their first flightMaiden flight

    The maiden flight of an aircraft is the first occasion on which an aircraft leaves the ground of its own accord....
     would be on October 2 2004, but this was postponed indefinitely on September 23 2004, as they were unable to obtain a few necessary components in time. They have not announced a revised timetable.
  • The Canadian ArrowCanadian Arrow

    The Canadian Arrow is a privately funded rocket and space travel project founded by London, Ontario, Canada entrepreneur Geo...
     team conducted a successful full-power engine test in 2005 and announced on June 2, 2005, that it had received permission from the Canadian government to use Cape Rich as a future launch site.
  • On August 8 2004, Space Transport Corporation's Rubicon 1 and Armadillo AerospaceArmadillo Aerospace

    Armadillo Aerospace is an aerospace startup company based in Mesquite, Texas....
    's test vehicle, in two separate unmanned test launches, both crashed and were destroyed.
  • On February 15 2005, AERA CorporationAERA Corporation

    AERA Corporation refers to a prospective space tourism company that claims it will operate the "the safest space flight syst...
     (Formerly American Astronautics) announced its plans to send seven paying passengers into space as early as 2006, a full year before the first announced speculative Virgin GalacticFacts About Virgin Galactic

    Virgin Galactic is a spaceline in Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group, which plans to offer sub-orbital spaceflights and late...
     flight.

List of major donors by order of donation

  • Anousheh AnsariAnousheh Ansari

    Anousheh Ansari is the Iranian-American co-founder and chairman of Prodea Systems, Inc....
     and Amir AnsariAmir Ansari

    Amir Ansari is co-founder of venture capital firm Prodea....
  • First USA, $1,000,000 USD
  • New Spirit of St. LouisFacts About Spirit of St. Louis

    The Spirit of St. Louis was a custom airplane used by Charles Lindbergh to make the first solo, non-stop trans-Atlantic ...
     Organization
  • Danforth FoundationDanforth Foundation

    Danforth Foundation is on of the largest private non-for profit foundations in the St....
    , $500,000 USD
  • Tom ClancyFacts About Tom Clancy

    Thomas Leo Clancy Jr. , better known as Tom Clancy, is an American author of bestselling political thrillers, best kno...
    , $100K–$500K
  • J.S. McDonnellJames Smith McDonnell

    James Smith McDonnell was an aviation pioneer and founder of McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, later McDonnell Douglas....
  • Andrew Taylor
  • Andrew BealAndrew Beal

    Andrew "Andy" Beal is a billionaire businessman living in Dallas, Texas....
     (Beal Bank)
  • St. Louis Science CenterSt. Louis Science Center

    The St. Louis Science Center is a science museum with its facilities in St....


Organization

With the Ansari X PRIZE, the X PRIZE FoundationX PRIZE Foundation

The X Prize Foundation is a non-profit prize institute based in Saint Louis, Missouri....
 (based in Santa Monica, CA) established a philanthropic model in which offering a prize for achieving a specific goal stimulates entrepreneurial investment that produces a 10 times or greater return on the prize purse and at least 100 times in follow-on investment and social benefit. The Foundation has developed into a non-profit prize institute that conceives, designs and manages public competitions for the benefit of humanity.

Spinoffs

The success of the X PRIZE competition has spurred spinoffs that are set up in the same way. There have been two major spinoffs at this point, the first of which is the M PrizeMethuselah Mouse Prize

The Methuselah Mouse Prize or Mprize is a growing $3.7 million prize started in 2003 to accelerate research into slowi...
 (short for Methuselah Mouse Prize), which is a prize set up by University of CambridgeUniversity of Cambridge

name = University of Cambridge|latin_name = Universitas Cantabrigiensis...
 biogerontologist Aubrey de GreyAubrey de Grey

Aubrey David Nicholas Jasper de Grey, Ph.D., is a researcher at , the Cambridge Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Ageing....
 which will go to the scientific team that successfully extends the life or reverses the aging of mice, which would then eventually be available to humans. The second is the NASA Centennial ChallengesCentennial Challenges

The Centennial Challenges are NASA inducement prize contests for non-government-funded technological achievements by America...
, which consist of (among others) the Tether Challenge in which teams compete to develop superstrong tethers as a component to space elevatorSpace elevator

A space elevator is a theoretical structure designed to transport material from a planet's surface into space....
s, and the Beam Power Challenge which encourages ideas for transmitting power wirelessly. An independent spinoff called the N-PrizeFacts About N-Prize

The N-Prize is a competition to stimulate innovation directed towards obtaining cheap access to space....
 was started by CambridgeCambridge

The city of Cambridge is an old English university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire....
 MicrobiologistMicrobiologist

A microbiologist is a biologist that studies the field of microbiology....
 Paul H. Dear in 2008, designed to foster research into low-cost orbital launchers.

The X PRIZE foundation itself is developing additional prizes, including one around genomics, and another around energy -- the Automotive X PRIZEAutomotive X Prize

The Automotive X Prize is the next X Prize from the X Prize Foundation, following the inaugural Ansari X Prize....
. There is also a possible "H-Prize", focused on hydrogen vehicleHydrogen vehicle

A hydrogen vehicle is a vehicle, such as an automobile or aeroplane which uses hydrogen as its primary source of power for l...
 research, although this goal has already been addressed by H.R. 5143, an X-Prize-inspired bill passed by the House of Representatives.

See also

  • NASA Centennial ChallengesCentennial Challenges

    The Centennial Challenges are NASA inducement prize contests for non-government-funded technological achievements by America...
  • List of prizes
  • Prizes named after peoplePrizes named after people

    This is a list of prizes that are named after people....
  • America's Space PrizeAmerica's Space Prize

    America's Space Prize is a US$50 million orbital spaceflight competition established and funded by hotel entrepreneur Robert...
  • Methuselah Mouse PrizeMethuselah Mouse Prize

    The Methuselah Mouse Prize or Mprize is a growing $3.7 million prize started in 2003 to accelerate research into slowi...
    , or M Prize (modeled after the Ansari X PRIZE)
  • N-PrizeN-Prize

    The N-Prize is a competition to stimulate innovation directed towards obtaining cheap access to space....
    , a low-budget orbital satellite insertion challenge
  • Space Ship One

Related technical topics:
  • Specific impulseSpecific impulse

    The specific impulse of a propulsion system is the impulse per unit of propellant....
  • Tsiolkovsky equation
  • Delta V

Further reading

  1. "The X PRIZE", an article by Ian Parker on pages 52 63 of the 4 October 2004 issue of The New YorkerThe New Yorker

    The New Yorker is an American magazine that publishes reportage, criticism, essays, cartoons, poetry, and fiction....


External links

  • -- a study of the future of spaceflight and its possible risks


Archon X PRIZE for Genomics: