And now a word on X-prize sponsors

"The $10 million will be paid, not by the X Prize Foundation, but by the insurance company the group dealt with in what's known as a "hole-in-one" insurance policy, similar to those taken out by golf courses for tournaments. Had the prize not been won by the end of this year, the insurers would have kept the premiums even as the $10 million policy expired. In recent years, the premiums have been paid from more than $1 million in contributions made by two Iranian-born telecom entrepreneurs: Anousheh Ansari and her brother-in-law, Amir Ansari. Both have said they would someday want to take spaceflights themselves."

OK slightly off topic here, but couldn't resist stealing Phil's headliner for this tidbit in a hat tip for my old gradschool Iranian and Arab friends.

Regards,
Mark