*The following is archival content from 2003, hosted on the original X PRIZE website, to maintain authenticity.

Propulsion:Pressure Fed Liquid Propellants Ship Name: The Spirit of Liberty Team Leader: Bill Sprague Location: Oceanside, California, USA Launch: Vertical from Land Landing: Parafoil Glide to Launch Site for Horizontal Landing Website: http://www.americanastronautics.com Team Overview

Quote from Bill Sprague

"The X Prize evidences that the spirit of exploration and that of competition originate from the same root-it draws upon the fundamental element of mankind, to further that which separates us from all other elements; that unnatural selection which draws us out to all reaches of the imagination. Indeed, as a species, we are driven to understand, to know, to touch all that we define as Universe. And such as that is, we must reach the stars and possess them. So early in process, this must ultimately be effort of not governments, but as mankind's common goal of existence. The X Prize Foundation serves as the single Center of Gravity with focus on these ends."

Flight Sequence

The American Astronautics Corp. is a group of seasoned 'low cost launch vehicle' designers, builders, testers, and launchers of simple, pressure fed, reusable space launch vehicles which follow the Minimum-Cost-To-Flight philosophy. The Spirit of Liberty is the logical step to the currently in-work commercial space tourism vehicle designed by Sprague, capable of carrying 30 passengers. The Spirit of Liberty will weigh about 10,000 pounds and have an engine producing some 20,000 pounds of thrust. The rocket is 3 feet in diameter and some 42 feet long.