X PRIZE is a $10,000,000 prize funded by First USA Bank and others with intentions to "jumpstart the space tourism industry through competition" among private entrepreneurs and rocket scientists. The conditions of the prize are: The craft must be privately financed, built and launched, able to carry three people to 100 kilometers (62.5 miles), must return safely to Earth, and repeat the launch within only 2 weeks.
According to their website: "X PRIZE is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization which is dependent upon donations from wealthy individuals, corporations and foundations for its operations."
List of Major Donors by order of donation:
- First USA Bank (BankOne)- $1,000,000 USD
- New Spirit of St. Louis Organization
- Danforth Foundation-$500,000 USD
- Tom Clancy-$100K - $500K
- J.S. McDonnell (McDonnell-Douglass)
- Andrew Taylor
- Enterprise Rent-a-car
- Andrew Beal
- Beal Bank
- St. Louis Science Center
- St. Louis, Missouri
