It looks like the X-Prize is going to be celebrating my birthday by launching a private spacecraft into suborbital space. Scaled Composites will be launching SpaceShipOne at 6:00am (Pacific time) this Wednesday. There’s even a live webcast; I may try to catch this, if I have a spare moment.

On a related note, I’m thrilled at the announcement of Virgin Galactic. (The name is just flat-out cool, for one.) Reading through their web site, it sounds like the Virgin team is really going to make this a worthwhile experience — and a lot more comfortable than hitching a ride on a Soyuz. This is the sort of thing I plan on doing as soon as I can possibly afford it. (Donations are being accepted.)