"When NASA began winding down its manned missions, Peter Diamandis realized that his lifelong dream of space travel needed a fresh trajectory. If the government wouldn't send him, he'd create an industry that could. His inspiration came from an unlikely place: Reading Charles Lindbergh's The spirit of St. Louis, Diamandis learned that the transatlantic flight that galvanized the airline industry was not just a stunt but an attempt to win a prize. Why, Diamandis thought, couldn't the same be done for private space flight? The story of SpaceShipOne, and the hunt for a ten-million-dollar prize is an extraordinary tale of making the impossible possible. In the end, as Diamandis dreamed, the result wasn't just a victory for one team--it was the foundation for a new industry and a new age."--Page 4 of cover.