Revolutionary new experiments spurred by prize money have triggered hopes that space tourism would become a reality in the near future.
Twenty-seven teams from seven countries are in the fray to develop space ships spurred partially by the $10 million in prize money offered by one of the world's richest men, Microsoft co-founder Paul G Allen.
The main contender for the prize is Burt Rutan, whose team has built SpaceShipOne, a stubby rocket plane aboard which it is hoped a human will be put in space for the first time without any government assistance, on June 21.
Rutan built the plane on the 'shuttle cock' principle - go straight up and come down, always pointing in the right direction. He claimed to have spent over $20 million on SpaceShipOne.
Rutan became famous by building a light plane, which travelled around the world without re-fuelling.
Close behind are at least half a dozen others, notably Canada-based Orva Space Corp, developers of the Da Vinci Project. It features a giant, helium-filled balloon that will release a rocket 80,000 feet above the Earth for a burn into sub-orbital space.
President, pilot and co-owner of Orva Space Brian Peeney said Rutan is ahead right now 'but we are feeling very competitive, and we are going to go some time this summer'.
Goes without saying that the $10 million prize money will be nothing compared to the lifelong accolades that will follow the winner of this contest.
External Link: Da Vinci Project