CAN IT WIN THE GRAND PRIZE? paceShipOne is to contend for the $10 million Ansari X Prize, a competition to launch three people into sub-orbital space, bring them back safely and do it again within two weeks using the same vehicle. Several private groups are in contention for the prize.

The US Federal Aviation Administration sub-orbital space flight license is required for US contenders in the X-Prize competition, a high-stakes international race ultimately to launch a manned, reusable private vehicle into space and return it safely to Earth.

The X-Prize foundation will award $10 million to the first company or organisation to launch a vehicle capable of carrying three people to a height of 100 kilometers (62.5 miles), return them safely to Earth, and repeat the flight with the same vehicle within two weeks.

Twenty-seven contestants representing seven countries have already registered for the X-Prize contest, modeled on the $25,000 Orteig Prize for which Charles Lindbergh flew solo from New York to Paris in 1927.

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