Branson & The X-Prize 2

Assuming that Allen & Rutan are planning to launch an X-Prize 2 project,
I'm betting that the technology transfer contract with Virgin Galactic will
be a pivotal source of cash for the project.

Has Branson's fee for licensing the X-Prize technology been released to the
public, and does anybody know what is the expected time frame for
completing the technology transfer? Will Rutan be in charge of that task,
and if not, who he will tap?

And does anybody know who Branson expects to manage his space operation,
after it is ready to start flying, or how large he expects his fleet to be?

TIA.

"John Schutkeker" -nospam wrote in message
. 1...

Assuming that Allen & Rutan are planning to launch an X-Prize 2 project,
I'm betting that the technology transfer contract with Virgin Galactic
will
be a pivotal source of cash for the project.

Has Branson's fee for licensing the X-Prize technology been released to
the
public, and does anybody know what is the expected time frame for
completing the technology transfer? Will Rutan be in charge of that task,
and if not, who he will tap?

I believe Branson just purchases Virgin Galactic spaceships based on the SS1
technology.


And does anybody know who Branson expects to manage his space operation,
after it is ready to start flying, or how large he expects his fleet to
be?

I heard 2 or 2 spaceships. I imagine the operation will be more like an
expensive fairground ride than a true air fleet.

In article ,
John Schutkeker -nospam wrote:

Assuming that Allen & Rutan are planning to launch an X-Prize 2 project,
I'm betting that the technology transfer contract with Virgin Galactic will
be a pivotal source of cash for the project.

Launch a what? Allen & Rutan have made their plans pretty clear:
they're licensing the technology, for example to Richard Branson, and as
part of that, developing larger, more capable craft.

The X-Prize foundation is completely separate and has announced its
plans as well (the X-Prize Cup).

Has Branson's fee for licensing the X-Prize technology been released to the
public, and does anybody know what is the expected time frame for
completing the technology transfer?

Fee: no. Schedule: yes, something like three years IIRC.

And does anybody know who Branson expects to manage his space operation,
after it is ready to start flying, or how large he expects his fleet to be?

Manager: no. Size: yes. ISTR it being five ships, but do a search and
I'm sure you'll find it, as it was widely discussed last month.

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"John Schutkeker" -nospam wrote in message
. 1...

Assuming that Allen & Rutan are planning to launch an X-Prize 2 project,
I'm betting that the technology transfer contract with Virgin Galactic
will
be a pivotal source of cash for the project.

Officially the Technology license is for 14 million pounds over the next 15
years. The deal is between VG and MAV though, that is, between branson and
Allen's company not Rutan's scaled composites.

Has Branson's fee for licensing the X-Prize technology been released to
the
public, and does anybody know what is the expected time frame for
completing the technology transfer? Will Rutan be in charge of that task,
and if not, who he will tap?

The unofficial figure I've seen in the press is 60 million pounds will be
expended on developing the spacecraft and operational infrastructure. Digest
this number with large amounts of Salt though.

And does anybody know who Branson expects to manage his space operation,
after it is ready to start flying, or how large he expects his fleet to
be?

VG is the vehicle that will manage the operations. I believe 5 units is the
inital target.

The X-Prize foundation is completely separate and has announced its
plans as well (the X-Prize Cup).


It seems the Ansari-X Prize foundation is looking now largely outside the space
domain. Who will create a realistic next step prize? For example for high speed
suborbital?

Yvan Bozzonetti.