Jeff Foust already has a piece up at The Space Review about this past weekend’s X-Prize Cup, and the state of NewSpace:

Both the overall Cup and Armadillo

Arecibo can’t find any ice on the moon.

I think we should be planning asteroid/comet missions, anyway. The private sector is more likely to do that, since they’ll be more focused on the practical use of resources than science and symbolism.

I’m back from New Mexico. I got home about 11:30 last night. During my layover in Dallas, I learned from Robin Snelson, and saw on my Treo, that Armadillo didn’t get the job done. It was a good attempt, though, and I think that it’s actually good that all the money is still on the table for next year. Hopefully, their efforts this year will make it easier for others to raise the money in time for next year, where we can have a real competition.

One thing I don’t understand, though. How do they break ties? Suppose that there had been two successful contenders this year, in terms of meeting the minimum prize requirements? Anyone know?

[Update a little after noon Eastern]

Paul Breed has an answer, that I’ll assume is reliable, in comments. Also, Jeff Foust has posted some pictures of yesterday’s events over at Flikr.

I actually think that this is the coolest picture from the event, and a unique one.

But then, I confess to a bias. (And note the pants creases from too much sitting in the press tent…)

Have to leave for the airport. I’ll check back in tomorrow, barring travel mishaps. Go over and read Clark and Jeff for more updates.

Jeff Foust says that Armadillo will try again about 12:45 MT. Unfortunately, I’ve got a 2:20 flight out of El Paso, so I’ll be leaving here about 12:30. While I wish good luck to the Armadillo team, I have to confess some hope that the prize remains unwon, so there will be some real competition next year. But I guess I’ll find out when I get home tonight.

But just as I type this, they’re getting ready to start the clock again, and send the vehicle back out to the test site. So maybe, if things go ahead of schedule, I’ll get to see it after all.

…

OK, the clock just started.

Jeff Foust says that Armadillo will try again about 12:45 MT. Unfortunately, I’ve got a 2:20 flight out of El Paso, so I’ll be leaving here about 12:30. While I wish good luck to the Armadillo team, I have to confess some hope that the prize remains unwon, so there will be some real competition next year. But I guess I’ll find out when I get home tonight.

But just as I type this, they’re getting ready to start the clock again, and send the vehicle back out to the test site. So maybe, if things go ahead of schedule, I’ll get to see it after all.

…

OK, the clock just started.

Jeff Foust says that Armadillo will try again about 12:45 MT. Unfortunately, I’ve got a 2:20 flight out of El Paso, so I’ll be leaving here about 12:30. While I wish good luck to the Armadillo team, I have to confess some hope that the prize remains unwon, so there will be some real competition next year. But I guess I’ll find out when I get home tonight.

But just as I type this, they’re getting ready to start the clock again, and send the vehicle back out to the test site. So maybe, if things go ahead of schedule, I’ll get to see it after all.

…

OK, the clock just started.

Yesterday, the University of Michigan team climbed the ribbon using a beamed-power system (lights below shining on solar panels). Today another team (a high school from Silicon Valley) just did it using solar power, with the arrays tracking the rising sun here mid morning. No word on their time yet.

Tim Pickens uses an asphalt-nitrous combination for both his rocket bike, and his rocket truck. Earlier, he had an igniter failure on the rocket bike. Just a few minutes ago, he was demonstrating the rocket truck (it’s in the bed of his Chevy, pointing–no surprise–backwards). He has it chocked for a static engine firing–for some strange reason, he can’t get insurance to actually propel it. This time, the igniter ignited, but there didn’t seem to be any oxidizer flow. It may be a failure of a temperature sensor that allows the valve to open.

So he’s 0 for 2 today.

Pixel will launch in two minutes.

…

First leg looked successful, but it did yesterday as well. Some talk that they may have missed the pad on landing. Now it’s looking like the ship tilted on landing.

They’ll definitely have to start over. The question is whether or not they damaged it, which will determine whether or not they have another chance today. If not, the prizes remain unwon for this year, giving hope to Masten and other potential contenders.

[Update a few minutes later]

I just talked to Ken Davidian, of Centennial Challenges. He says that as far as he knows, they could still go with Texel for Level 1, and perhaps for Level 2 as well, if they can get the parts back in her (him?). But if they don’t win a prize today, they have to wait until next year. If so, it will give other teams time to catch up, and make for a more exciting event in 2007.

Just hearing that Tim Pickens will take another rocket bike ride in a couple minutes.

…

A failed ignitor. They may try again later.

Word now is that Pixel landed off the pad, on its side, but there are no fuel leaks. Still unclear whether or not they’ll attempt it again today.

[Update about 10:25]

The Armadillo team just came by the press tent with the wounded Pixel on their way to the staging area from which they’re required to start any next attempt. Still unclear if they’re going to fly it again, or swap the parts back into Texel. I’ll go over and see if John has time to talk.

[A couple minutes later]

“We’re going to get a sandwich, dust it off, make sure the bolts are tight, and then try it again.”