spacetoday.net: America's Space Prize rules revealed

Posted: Wed, Nov 10, 2004, 7:57 AM ET (1257 GMT)
A new prize offered by a multimillionaire businessman would give $50 million to the first privately-developed orbital spacecraft capable of flying twice in 60 days. The rules for America's Space Prize, published in Monday's issue of Space News, require spacecraft to fly to a minimum altitude of 400 kilometers and stay there for at least two orbits. The spacecraft must be capable of flying at least five people; while the first flight does not have to carry passengers, the second qualifying flight must carry a full crew. Only teams based in the US can qualify for the flight. The prize expires on January 10, 2010. The prize is funded by Robert Bigelow, whose company, Bigelow Aerospace, is developing inflatable modules that can be used as orbital habitats. Bigelow told Space News he needs a way to get to the station because he believes that the only existing alternative, Russia's Soyuz spacecraft, will be tied up in support of the International Space Station, particularly after the shuttle is retired.