SPACE PRIZES:
THE NEW SPIRIT OF ST. LOUISSM

As these documents have indicated, the formation of the X PRIZESM Foundation was inspired in part by the aviation prizes of the early 20th century, and, in particular, the sensational flight of Charles Lindbergh in the Spirit of St. Louis.

Some propose that Lindbergh's 1927 flight was one of the most successful technological demonstrations in history. Using the best "off the shelf" commercial technology of his day, Lindbergh proved that long distance air travel was feasible. By taking a smaller, faster approach to aviation, Lindbergh and the Spirit of St. Louis Organization showed that a small professional team could outperform large, government-style efforts.

Although, prior to his flight, the press of the day characterized him as a daredevil, an amateur, "the flying fool," and a "lanky demon of the air," he was actually a skilled professional and military aviator. Many of the other Orteig Prize attempts utilized heavy, multi-engine planes with large crews. Lindbergh's meticulously planned single-engine/single-pilot strategy was a radical departure from the conventional thinking of the day, but his innovative thinking and careful preparation won the full support of the Spirit of St. Louis Organization.

The Spirit of St. Louis proved that the principal barrier to commercial air travel was not a technological wall as much as a psychological one. Once Lindbergh's flight had shown the way, that barrier was broken forever. Almost overnight, his feat was replicated and the golden age of aviation came into full bloom, starting a chain of events which directly triggered the multi-billion dollar commercial aviation industry of today.

Once again, the business leaders of St. Louis are lending their full support to overcoming the psychological barriers to commercial (space) flight through their support of the X PRIZE Foundation. By challenging the prevailing global perception that space travel is limited to government organizations, the X PRIZE will stimulate commercial and private passenger space flight for the average person. The city of St. Louis is leading the way, just as it did 69 years ago when such citizens as Major Albert B. Lambert and Harold Bixby articulated a vision for the benefits that commercial aviation would bring to their city and the world. The St. Louis Science Center, the business leaders of St. Louis, and community patrons have provided the operational funding and a home for The X Prize Foundation.


X PRIZESM and NEW SPIRIT OF ST. LOUISSM are service marks of The X PRIZE Foundation, Inc.