X Prize Cup

Each X Prize Cup hosts different events and demonstrations, such as rocket-powered bicycles, rocket jet packs; but particularly notable are the Lunar Lander Challenge and the Space Elevator Games.

The notion of a competitive goal was adopted from the SpaceCub project, demonstration of a private vehicle capable of flying a pilot to the edge of space, defined as 100 km altitude.

This goal was selected to help encourage the space industry in the private sector; so government funding to entries is not allowed.

The X Prize Cup offers monetary rewards and organizational support to the community of aerospace professionals—and by staging Earth's great space exposition.

NASA is developing similar prize programs called Centennial Challenges to generate innovative solutions to space technology problems.

The prize was won on October 4, 2004, the 47th anniversary of the Sputnik 1 launch, by the Tier One project using the experimental spaceplane SpaceShipOne.

Wirefly was named the official title sponsor of the competition in 2006,[1] and the event for that year was held on October 20–21 in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and represented an effort by the X Prize Foundation to continue encouraging innovation in the private sector.

The exposition also featured high-powered rocket launches and exhibits intended to boost public interest in aerospace technology.

In addition to the featured competitions, the Wirefly X Prize Cup included a series of rocketry exhibitions and educational presentations.

"Rocketman" Dan Schlund demonstrated his "Rocketbelt," a device which allows him to soar above the earth with a rocket strapped to his back.

Other attractions included high-powered rocket launches, a student competition, a symposium on personal spaceflight, and an assortment of ground displays and simulators.

In the Power Beam Challenge, each team designs and builds a climber (a machine capable of traveling up and down a tether ribbon).