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Former NASA Shuttle Astronaut to Judge X Prize Competition
By Leonard David
Senior Space Writer
posted: 04:10 pm ET
30 June 2003
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Shuttle Astronaut to Judge X Prize CompetitionFormer 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 NASAs Dryden Flight Research Center. In February 2003, Searfoss left Dryden to pursue private business interests. The Chief Judge's initial duty is to complete the development of a pool of world-renowned aviation and space experts to judge the X Prize competition. The judges will ensure that the $10 Million X Prize is awarded to the first team to fly a privately financed reusable three-person spaceship to an altitude of 62 miles-and repeat the trip within two weeks. "To date only 431 humans have enjoyed the unbelievably spectacular, sublime adventure of flying in space - far too few! As Chief Judge of the X Prize competition, I'm deeply honored to witness the efforts of bold, creative, and courageous private teams to reach space, make history, and pave the way for many thousands more," Searfoss said in an X Prize Foundation statement. In a related development, the X Prize Foundation also announced June 30 that Southern California businessman and private space travel pioneer, Dennis Tito, has been elected to the X Prize Foundation Board of Trustees. "I'm joining the X Prize Foundation Board of Trustees because I'd like to see a new generation of privately owned and operated spaceships. These are the ships that will fly thousands of people into space on an annual basis," Tito said. "Millions of people could easily be qualified for space. Once the price of traveling to space comes down to the price of an SUV, I think we'll see thousands of people sign up," Tito said in an X Prize Foundation statement.
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