SpaceShipOne wins $10m prize

SpaceShipOne today scooped the $10m (€8.15m) prize for the first privately-developed manned rocket to reach space twice within 14 days.

The craft was launched over California’s Mojave desert and reached the required altitude of 328,000 feet for the second time since September 29.

The Ansari X Prize was founded in 1996 to kickstart private-sector development of rocket ships.

Founder Peter Diamandis hoped the $10m incentive would have the same effect on space travel as the Orteig Prize had on air travel. Charles Lindbergh claimed that prize in 1927 after making his solo transatlantic flight.