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Countdown to the Cup

Annual event similar to X PRIZE, featuring rocket races, exhibits, and flight demonstrations. Draws huge crowds with a blend of innovation and competition.

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Countdown to the Cup

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  1. Countdown to the Cup Presentation to the COMSTAC 26 October 2005

  2. The X-PRIZE Cup • Annual version of the X PRIZE, designed to spur space flight technology advances • Hybrid of Reno Air Races, Indianapolis 500, and NASCAR – except with rockets • Provides a market, in the form of prize purses • Extends the successful model of the Ansari X PRIZE to smaller competitions • Based in New Mexico, eventually to be held at the Southwest Regional Spaceport

  3. Countdown to the Cup • A bridge from today to the Cup • This year held at the Las Cruces International Airport • LCIA will be the venue for at least the next year • Designed to maintain the momentum from Ansari X-PRIZE event of last year • Competition and competitors still being defined • Rocket Racers a definite part of future Cup

  4. Planned Countdown Content • Exhibits from Cup Participants, aerospace companies, NASA, educational organizations, and X-PRIZE Foundation • Flight events • 3 Tripoli sounding rocket flights (unmanned) • 3 Armadillo vertical takeoff and landing hover demonstrations (unmanned) • 2 E-Z Rocket flights (manned) • F-117 flyby • Hot air balloon • Weather balloons • Starchaser LOX/kerosene engine static fire

  5. Event Day • Exhibits and stage show were a big hit • XCOR E-Z Rocket was the main flight attraction • Armadillo VTVL rocket flew only once, but went on display and was a big hit • Winds prevented any of the Tripoli rockets from flying • Starchaser static fire had a bit of a problem

  6. The Stage

  7. The Show Grounds

  8. Sights on the Ground and in the Air

  9. SS-1 Replica

  10. The XCOR EZ Rocket

  11. “Mission Control” – the Flight Ops Tent

  12. How We Did • Somewhere between 10,000 and 20,000 attended the event • Nationwide media attention for essentially a local event • The crowd praised the event • Kids in particular got hooked • Minor inconveniences and annoyances aside, a good time was had by all • State of New Mexico, City of Las Cruces both very happy • Sponsors for next time around very happy

  13. For Next Year • Major round of “lessons learned” underway • Plan starting NOW! • So far: • Two day event as hedge against weather • Different weekend, to avoid event conflicts • Don’t close airport! • Etc. . .

  14. A Special Thanks to AST • Patti Smith provided the focus to get the Waiver and Certificate of Authorization process on track • Brought order out of chaos • AST personnel worked long hours with XPF, Tripoli, and New Mexico to ensure safety of flight for sounding rockets • Became indispensable part of a tight-knit team • On behalf of the X PRIZE Foundation, thank you

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