The head of the U.S. foundation awarding the X Prize for privately funded space flight said Monday it will begin hosting an annual competition.
Peter Diamandis, speaking to the Fox News Channel following the second successful flight of SpaceShipOne, the first privately funded rocket to reach space twice within two weeks, and thereby claiming the $10 million prize – said the foundation will begin offering a new award each year.
I want everyone … to know space is in your future, Diamandis said, adding he envisions gathering all competing, private space ventures together in New Mexico annually to vie for an award, in the same way that aircraft builders and designers used to compete at air shows in the early days of aviation.
The X Prize Foundation, a non-profit educational organization headquartered in St. Louis, is supported by private donations.
