After Columbia, X Prize Entrants Remain Committed to Space

A decent article reviewing the effect of the Columbia accident on the various X-Prize entrants. Unusually, the article correctly identifies what it is that is holding us back, and expresses proper perspective on the risks involved:

However, before humanity can go out and explore the universe in person, it will have to find a cheap way to transport people into space en masse. That's where the X Prize can make a galvanizing mark, pushing independent enterprises to take the initial steps of commercialized space travel despite the risk involved.

"There's risk in virtually everything you do, and you cannot mitigate it down to zero even by staying in your own home," said Michael J. Gallo, CEO and president of American X Prize competitor Kelly Space and Technology. "I think the draw here is that you're doing something that's never been done before, something that's worth doing."