The X Prize was won today. 10 million dollars for the first civilian reusable space craft. The space age has taken a huge step forward.
Ironic that the last astronaut to fly in Mercury, Gordon Cooper, should die today at 77. While Mercury was certainly the vehicle to put Americans on course to the Moon, it also signaled the death of the X program, rocket planes that flew through the 50's and early 60's. In many ways, Space Ship One is a trip back to those heady days of the X-15. While winning the race against the Soviets, we lost our way in Space. With the X Prize behind us, the way is open to regaining the excitement of space travel that Americans knew during the Mercury and Gemini years.
Godspeed, Gordo. You will be missed.
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