Suborbital space races in 3 - 5 years

The Wirefly X-Prize will be launching on October 21st, but it won't have the same buzz the X-Prize caused when SpaceShipOne claimed the original $10 million prize. Still, the X-Prize isn't resting on its laurels and the best is yet to come.

"I can see a time, hopefully within the next three to five years when the X Prize Cup is flying races of suborbital vehicles," said Chuck Lauer, Director of Business Development for Rocketplane Kistler, based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. (more)

Let's keep our fingers crossed. If the X-Prize achieves suborbital races in less than five years, then the time of the private tourist will truly lift-off.