Former NASA Shuttle Astronaut to Judge X Prize Competition

Space.com ^ | 6/30/03 | Leonard David

[KevinDavis]

Former space shuttle commander, Richard Searfoss, has been selected as Chief Judge of the X Prize competition. And none too soon. A recent flurry of activity shows that the race to first fly a three-person, private-sector reusable launch vehicle is speeding ahead.

"The competition is heating up. We could see a winner within the next 12 months. It's time to complete our judging panel," said Peter Diamandis, Founder and Chairman of the X Prize Foundation, based in St. Louis, Missouri. The Foundation is set up to provide incentives in the private sector to make space travel frequent and affordable for the general public.

Searfoss retired from the Air Force and left NASA in 1998. For the next few years he worked in private industry and, more recently, was a research test pilot at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center. In February 2003, Searfoss left Dryden to pursue private business interests

[KevinDavis]

I'm more excited about the X-Prize than the space station.

[KevinDavis]

Space Ping! This is the space ping list! Let me know if you want on or off this list!

[Husker24]

Yea, I wish they would hurry the hell up though, it seems like weve been waiting forever for this thing. It would also be nice to see these things take off live and not hear about them two or three months later.

[KevinDavis]

I agree with you, however I think in December Burt Rutan is going to launch spaceship one.

[Frank_Discussion]

ME TOO!! (and I work on ISS)

[Brett66]

I'm more excited about the X-Prize than the space station.

Absolutely, where this will lead will enable large numbers of people to go into space. ISS will lead to more broken promises and cost overruns to nowhere. The future has arrived and NASA ain't in it.

[El Gato]

If I was a betting man, I'd put my money on Rutan. If he says he can do it, he can.

[KevinDavis]

I agree with you..

[DoughtyOne]

I'd tend to agree with you, but who knows. Unknowns may win this.

I do have a nagging sensation inside that says, "If I worked for NASA, or was a NASA official, there isn't a chance in hell I'd let anyone from the private sector scoop me on this. I don't care if I won the prize or not, my agency would be the first to accomplish this."

Not today's NASA.

[JRandomFreeper]

Please add me to your ping list.

/john

[Sam Cree]

Can you put me on the list please?

[Sam Cree]