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The world's biggest check? Ansari XPrize Jackpot!
Nov 9, 2004 18: 01 EST
This is what it looks like, guys! The team got it Saturday in St. Louis, Missouri, along with a five-foot, 200 lb bronze trophy, while astronaut Mike Melvill and pilot Robert Scherer flew overhead in the Beechcraft Starship, one of the chase planes that accompanied SpaceShipOne on its flights.
Also in St. Louis were Paul Allen, several congressmen, NASA representatives, Erik Lindbergh, Amir Ansari, Peter Diamandis, Robert K. Weiss, (Vice Chairman, X PRIZE Foundation and Hollywood Producer) and other.
Here goes the full press release from the event:
"Ten million dollars was awarded at 10:30 a.m. (CT) Saturday to the American Mojave Aerospace Team, led by research aircraft developer Burt Rutan, and financier Paul Allen, for its successful completion of the history making ANSARI X PRIZE.
The team prevailed over 25 additional teams from across the globe in developing and flying a privately financed, manned spaceship to an altitude above 100km.
The criteria called for the spacecraft to fly twice, within a two-week period, before the December 31 deadline, with a pilot and the weight equivalent of two additional people. Ceremonies were held at the St. Louis Science Center, a major supporter of the Foundation and St. Louis University High School in St. Louis, Missouri.
"We are very excited to be able to celebrate this extraordinary accomplishment here in St. Louis, the birth place of Charles Lindbergh's flight and home of the X PRIZE Foundation," said Gregg Maryniak, Executive Director, X PRIZE Foundation.
"The ANSARI X PRIZE was the first step for people to realize their dream of space travel and has since sparked a number of new creative endeavors including the upcoming X PRIZE CUP in New Mexico."
After the team's second successful sub orbital space flight October 4, Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Atlantic Airways Founder, announced his plans to partner with the American Mojave Aerospace Ventures Team to develop a fleet of five passenger space ships modeled from Burt Rutan's White Knight & SpaceShipOne vehicles.
"There is no question that the ANSARI X PRIZE was instrumental in helping to inspire a new space renaissance," said Burt Rutan, American Mojave Aerospace Ventures Team Leader. "The entire team anticipates an exciting decade ahead, which will provide space access for those for whom it was previously only a dream."
In addition to receiving a $10 million check, the American Mojave Aerospace Ventures Team also was awarded an impressive five-foot, 200 lb bronze trophy created by sculptor, James Todd of Troy, Michigan. Francis G. Slay, Mayor, City of St. Louis, proclaimed Nov. 6, 2004 "Space Flight Day" and designated the first week in October as "Aviation History Week" to commemorate the second flight of SpaceShipOne on October 4, 2004.
With blue skies overhead, the presentation ceremony was concluded as pilot and astronaut Mike Melvill and pilot Robert Scherer flew overhead in the Beechcraft Starship, one of the chase planes that accompanied SpaceShipOne on its flights.
Dignitaries attending the event included Paul G. Allen, Founder and Chair, Vulcan Inc.; Congressman Richard Gephardt, (D) Missouri; Congressman Todd Akin, (R)Missouri; Francis G. Slay, Mayor of St. Louis; William Readdy, NASA Associate Administrator, Space Operations Mission Directorate; Byron Lichtenberg, PhD, X PRIZE Board of Trustees and astronaut; John-David Bartoe, astronaut; Richard Fleming, President and CEO, St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association; Erik Lindbergh, Director, Lindbergh Foundation; Amir Ansari, Technology Entrepreneur; Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, Founder and Chair, X PRIZE Foundation; Robert K. Weiss, Vice Chairman, X PRIZE Foundation and Hollywood Producer, and Douglas R. King, President, St. Louis Science Center.
Additional attendees of the ceremonies included many of the 26 competitors including: ARCA, Da Vinci/Golden Palace, Pablo de Leon & Associates, Pioneer Rocketplane, TGV Rockets, Inc., Vanguard Spacecraft, High Altitude Research Corporation (HARC), and Suborbital Corporation."
Published Nov 8, 2004, edited Nov 9, 2004 with new image text.
The X PRIZE Foundation is a not-for-profit educational organization with headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri. Its Title Sponsor, the Ansari family, and Presenting Sponsor, Champ Car World Series, supports the Foundation's ANSARI X PRIZE Competition.
The Foundation is also supported by Seven-Up and M&M's as well as private donations from the St. Louis Community through the New Spirit of St. Louis Organization.
Image of the check and team, courtesy the Ansari XPrize organizers.
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