MOJAVE - The team behind SpaceShipOne, the first privately funded, manned space program, has won aviation's top prize, the prestigious Robert J. Collier Trophy. With announcement of the award Monday, SpaceShipOne joins the likes of Orville Wright, Howard Hughes, Chuck Yeager, Scott Crossfield and the crew of Apollo 11. The Collier Trophy has been awarded each year since 1911 by the National Aeronautic Association "for the greatest achievement in aviation in America …" "It's the Medal of Honor of aviation; it's aviation's Oscar," said Dick Rutan, who led the nomination effort for SpaceShipOne. The brainchild of noted aviation designer Burt...
