Anticipating multiple attempts in the next few months, the X-Prize Foundation has named a former astronaut as head of the judging panel.

How do you take Dennis Tito's comment, "Once the price of traveling to space comes down to the price of an SUV, I think we'll see thousands of people sign up"? I think we might see HUNDREDS of millionaires that can afford a $45,000 trip to space once it gets that low, but I'd rather see MILLIONS of people able to afford it instead. I don't think it has to necessarily cost as little as a flight from New York to LA, but for a short 10 minute flight to the "edge of space", I don't think I'd be willing to pay more than the cost of a 7 day Bahamian cruise. I can't afford either right now, of course, but it's nice to see someone in the public eye at least 'wishing' the price down to a "reasonable" level.