Two American teams are close to building a privately funded spacecraft that will leave the atmosphere. According to estimates, by the end of the year they will be able to fly into space. Head of one of the teams: the game designer DOOM
Two American teams may build a private spacecraft that will reach space by the end of the year, according to the "X Prize" organization, which promises 10 million dollars to those who succeed in flying into space with private funding.
The spokeswoman for the organization, Diane Murphy, said that two American teams have progressed in development to such an extent that they have already applied for a license from the US Federal Aviation Authority. Over 20 teams from around the world are competing for the prize, with the goal of building the first private aircraft that will fly people into space. The organizers believe that there will be a market for "space tourists" who will pay for short flights into space, which will allow them to experience weightlessness.
The American newspaper "USA Today" published that the conditions for winning the competition require the team to build an aircraft that will reach an altitude of approximately 99 km - and will be able to make a second flight into space within two weeks. "This year we are definitely expecting a winner," said the spokeswoman. The board of directors of the organization includes Dennis Tito, the American who paid 20 million dollars for a flight in a Russian spacecraft, and Eric Lindbergh, the grandson of the famous pilot Charles Lindbergh.
The leading contender in the competition is Brett Rutan, who designed the "Voyager" airplane, which circled the Earth without refueling. Paul Allen, one of the founders of Microsoft, finances Rotan. In its last flight, the aircraft built by Rotan reached an altitude of more than 20 km, twice the altitude at which commercial airplanes fly. The second closest team to winning operates from Texas, and is led by John Cormack, who designed the computer games Doom and Quake.
You can read about the Israeli participants in the project in the article
Six Israelis plan to go into space with the help of a helium balloon and liquid oxygen which was published on the site of the scientist on 14/2/2003, that is, about a year ago.
The knowledge of man and space
For news on Yahoo's news site
To the XPRIZE competition site
https://www.hayadan.org.il/BuildaGate4/general2/data_card.php?Cat=~~~764389227~~~169&SiteName=hayadan
