Let’s Circle the Earth
By Christopher MooreI know it seems like I’m preoccupied with space, but there is a lot of interesting stuff going on right now in private sector space exploration. So get over it.
Anyway, Bigelow has finally decided to unveil his $50 million X-prize-esque challenge to rocket builders and space enthusiasts. You can learn more here.
Here are the rules:
1. The spacecraft must reach a minimum altitude of 400 kilometers (approximately 250 miles).
2. The spacecraft must reach a minimum velocity sufficient to complete two full orbits at altitude before returning to Earth.
3. The spacecraft must carry no less than a crew of five people.
4. The spacecraft must dock or demonstrate its ability to dock with a Bigelow Aerospace inflatable space habitat, and be capable of remaining on station at least six months.
5. The spacecraft must perform two consecutive, safe and successful orbital missions within a period of 60 calendar days, subject to government regulations.
6. No more than 20 percent of the spacecraft may be composed of expendable hardware.
7. The contestant must be domiciled in the United States of America.
8. The contestant must have its principal place of business in the United States of America.
9. The competitor must not accept of utilize government development funding related to this contest of any kind, nor shall there be any government ownership of the competitor. Using government test facilities shall be permitted.
10. The spacecraft must complete its two missions safely and successfully, with all five crew members aboard for the second qualifying flight, before the competition’s deadline of Jan. 10, 2010.
So no big deal. Just send five people into orbit around the Earth, do it again, and collect your check.
If you’re looking for me, I’ll be in the garage working on a rocket.
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