Wirefly X Prize Cup takes off tomorrow!

[mckitterick]

The Wirefly X Prize Cup is currently running preliminary activities like a space symposium. The contest takes place with an air show at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, and tomorrow the contestants begin their lander vehicle competitions. Last year, the Armadillo Aerospace team just missed winning by a few feet! And their lander hovered for longer than any NASA or other space-agency lander can. Surely someone will win this year. Go private space enterprise!

Here's their craft, Pixel, in last year's attempt. It's so-named because the project leader is John Carmack, the guy who created Doom and Quake.

Click the image to see the story.

Here's the Wired story, which is easier to parse than the official X Prize page.

Anyone going?

Best,
Chris