X PRIZE competitor The GoldenPalace.com Space Project: Powered by the da Vinci Project passed a key milestone September 12, testing out the concept of balloon-assisted launch. The "EO-OS SEVEN" polyethylene test balloon carried a 200 lb payload to 40,000 feet from a launch site in Colorado, USA. "It was a complete success," said team leader Brian Feeney to MSNBC reporter Alan Boyle. "The payload stressed the balloon, and it had a very rapid rise rate from the ground, which is what we wanted."
Straight from xprize.org. Interesting, I think Team DaVinci is the only real threat to Scaled Composites. Too bad their new indian casino sponsored markings make them look like a roof top hot air ballon ad scheme from Edmonton. Got to pay the bills somehow I guess. Tough to go up against Paul Allen dollars though.
Hopefully they can sneak in there and beat Scaled Composites. Bury a lucky loonie somewhere on the ship I guess.
