Wednesday, Sep 29 -- the first SpaceShipOne flight in a two-part try at the X-Prize.

Wednesday, Sep 29 -- the first SpaceShipOne flight in a two-part try at the
X-Prize.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Kaye LeFebvre"
Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 2004 2:13 PM
Subject: SpaceShipOne launch date


This was posted at the X-Prize website just now. Please do not contact
Scaled Composites for further information. Visit www.xprize.org or
www.ansarixprize.org.

GO FOR LAUNCH! X PRIZE FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES TEAMS READY TO COMPETE FOR $10
MILLION

The American Mojave Aerospace Ventures Team announces launch dates for
SpaceShipOne and the Canadian da Vinci Project Team announces roll-out date
for their completed spaceship.

The X PRIZE Foundation announced key next steps today by two of its top
competitors for the ANSARI X PRIZE. The American Mojave Aerospace Ventures,
LLC Team (a partnership between Paul G. Allen and Burt Rutan and his team at
Scaled Composites) announced today that it has given its official 60-day
notice and has scheduled its first competition flight on September 29th,
2004, at the Mojave Airport Civilian Aerospace Test Center in Mojave,
California. To win the $10 million, SpaceShipOne will need to make a second
flight within two weeks, by October 13th, 2004.

In addition, the Canadian da Vinci Project Team, based in Toronto, Canada,
announced its plans to roll-out its completed Wild Fire spacecraft for
public viewing and photo opportunities on Thursday, Aug 5th, 2004, at its
Downsview Airport hanger in Toronto. The da Vinci Project Team, widely
heralded as a contender for the $10 million, will pursue its own ANSARI X
PRIZE space flight attempts this Fall.

Also introduced to supporters and press was Amir Ansari, representing the
Ansari family, the benefactors who titled the ANSARI X PRIZE, and Astronaut
Rick Searfoss, the Chief Judge of the competition. The announcements took
place at the Santa Monica Municipal Airport in Santa Monica, California, at
10:30 am PST.

"Eight years ago, under the Arch in St. Louis, we kicked off the X PRIZE
competition. Today I'm pleased to announce that the first team is ready to
make an attempt to claim the $10 million, with other teams close behind,
said Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, Chairman and Founder of the X PRIZE Foundation.
"The American Mojave Aerospace Ventures Team and the Canadian da Vinci
Project Team are just two of the 26 competing groups who will someday make
it possible for spaceflights to be conducted from commercial spaceports
across the globe. When the ANSARI X PRIZE competition is won, it will herald
the start of a new renaissance of spaceflight in which the general public
will have their chance to fly next."

If successful, Mojave Aerospace Ventures will make history by launching a
privately financed, manned spaceship to 100 km altitude, twice within two
weeks, each carrying a pilot and the weight and volume equivalent of two
additional passengers. On June 21st, Mike Melvill, a pilot for Mojave
Aerospace Ventures, became the first commercial pilot to enter suborbital
space, earning astronaut wings and a spot in the Guinness Book of World
Records. Similar to the June flight, the competition launches will take
place at the Mojave Airport Civilian Aerospace Test Center in Mojave,
California. The public is invited and encouraged to attend the historic
events. Parking passes for public attendance can be purchased on the X PRIZE
website (www.xprize.org).

"The idea of competitions have always had a rich heritage in our society,"
said Paul G. Allen, sole investor of SpaceShipOne and partner in Mojave
Aerospace Ventures, LLC. "This competition has proven that there are many
different ways to attack the challenges set out by the ANSARI X PRIZE. From
the start we have approached SpaceShipOne with a 'can-do, home-brew'
attitude. We are grateful that our previous flights have brought even more
attention to the ANSARI X PRIZE and given more momentum to the groundswell
of excitement that is continuing to build for the long-term potential of
affordable space exploration."

"I want to thank the X PRIZE Foundation for providing the inspiration in
1996, to get us little guys thinking about private development of manned
space flight. Last month our team demonstrated that private companies can
indeed conduct space flights without government help." stated Burt Rutan,
Team Leader of the Mojave Aerospace Ventures Team and designer of both the
White Knight and SpaceShipOne. "We are hopeful to complete both qualifying
flights and to win the ANSARI X PRIZE."

Wild Fire, the Canadian da Vinci Project Team spacecraft, is also launched
at high-altitude into suborbital space at 80,000 feet from an unmanned,
reusable helium balloon. The Canadian da Vinci Project Team, considered one
of the top ANSARI X PRIZE competitors, will reveal its Wild Fire space
vehicle to the public for the first time on August 5th, 2004, at its
Downsview Airport Hanger in Toronto.

"The da Vinci Project Team has made huge strides in the past year and we're
excited to finally share Wild Fire with the public," noted Brian Feeney, da
Vinci Project Team Leader. "We're in the commercial tourist race for the
long haul and while working with an all-volunteer team, we've been able to
accomplish major aviation and space milestones in pursuit of the ANSARI X
PRIZE."

In addition, Colonel Rick Searfoss, pilot and commander of three Space
Shuttle missions, was introduced as the Chief Judge of the ANSARI X PRIZE.
"We have met with the Mojave Aerospace Ventures Team and we are prepared to
ensure that the flights are well monitored and that all rules are followed
carefully," said Col. Searfoss. "As an experienced astronaut, I can tell you
that I'm personally excited to see the beginning of a new generation of
spaceflight."

About the ANSARI X PRIZE Competition
Currently, 26 teams from around the globe are competing for the $10 million
ANSARI X PRIZE. In order to win the competition, teams must build a safe and
reusable space vehicle able to carry one pilot and the weight equivalent of
two passengers, 100km (62 miles) into suborbital space. The vehicle must be
privately financed and safely flown twice within a two-week period. The
first registered ANSARI X PRIZE team to complete this feat will win the $10
million prize and a spectacular 5-foot trophy.

About the X PRIZE Foundation (www.xprize.org)
The X PRIZE Foundation is a not-for-profit educational organization with
headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri. The Foundation's ANSARI X PRIZE
Competition is supported by its Title Sponsor, the Ansari family, and
Presenting Sponsor, Champ Car World Series. The Foundation is also supported
by private donations from the St. Louis Community through an organization
called the New Spirit of St. Louis Organization. The Foundation's mission is
to educate the public about space travel, create educational programming for
students and space enthusiasts, and provide incentives in the private sector
to make space travel frequent and affordable for the general public. Several
additional sponsorships for the ANSARI X PRIZE competition remain available
to corporations or individuals who wish to support the contest and associate
themselves with courage, determination, achievement, space, speed, high
performance and technology.

To find out how individuals or corporations can join the efforts of the X
PRIZE, or involve neighborhood schools or community centers with X PRIZE
educational programs, visit www.xprize.org or contact the office at
636-519-9449

About the X PRIZE Foundation
The X PRIZE Foundation is a not-for-profit educational organization with
headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri. Supported by private donations and the
St. Louis community, the Foundation's mission is to create educational
programming for students and space enthusiasts as well as provide incentives
in the private sector to make space travel frequent and affordable for the
general public. Several additional sponsorships for the ANSARI X PRIZE
competition remain available to corporations or individuals who wish to
support the X PRIZE Foundation and associate themselves with space, speed
and high technology.

To learn more about the ANSARI X PRIZE competition, please visit
www.ansarixprize.org http://www.ansarixprize.org.

To find out how individuals, educational organizations or corporations can
join the efforts of the X PRIZE Foundation, please visit www.xprize.org
http://www.xprize.org or contact the office at +1 636 519 9449.