Monday Is The Day

1701 PDT, 09.30.04: ANN, the official news pool service representing the X Prize organization, has just learned that SpaceShipOne has been released for launch this Monday, in the final qualifying flight needed to win the $10 Million dollar Ansari X Prize.

X Prize Boss Peter Diamandis talked to ANN's Jim Campbell, within minutes of an official discussion with Burt Rutan, confirming that Rutan voiced a "95% confidence" in the schedule for the breathlessly anticipated second launch attempt.

Few other details have been released and the ID of the pilot/astronaut for the next launch is not expected to be confirmed until the vehicle is ready to fly -- though it is expected that someone other than Mike Melvill will complete X Prize's stringent requirements... a move that Melvill endorsed yesterday.

"The last leg? No one has announced who's gonna fly it. I'd love to see someone else get the chance at it. I'm feeling greedy right now, it seems like I grab all the flights, and I'd love to see someone else get a chance. The other guys have practiced just as hard as I have, they've worked just as hard. They're younger, they have faster reflexes, and they're better in many ways than I am. And I'd love to see one of them get a shot at it. But of course, if no one else wants the flight, I'd be happy to do it."

In the meantime, X Prize's Diamandis told ANN that he "looks forward" to awarding the $10 Million dollar prize. "It is the proper completion of an amazing dream."

ANN will keep you updated as this extraordinary story progresses and we look forward to bringing you even more late-breaking news and photos from ANN's onsite X Prize news team. More info to follow.

FMI: www.scaled.com, www.xprize.org