Looking beyond the x-prize
26 August 2004: A Giant Leap For Commercial Space Travel, IEEE Spectrum
“Paul Allen, Microsoft Corp.’s cofounder, funded Rutan’s project, ostensibly to win the US $10 million Ansari X Prize for the first workable “space tourist” vehicle. But Rutan and Allen’s gaze was directed far beyond that prize. Considering they spent more than twice as much money as they could win, clearly they were looking to participate in a future of commercial space travel for ordinaryalbeit richpeople.”