The Virginia Tech College of Engineering will host a seminar by SpaceShipOne pilot Brian Binnie of Scaled Composites (please see this SpaceShipOne website) on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 in Burruss Auditorium. This seminar has been made possible due to the generosity of benefactors Pat (1972 ESM) and Nancy Artis in the name of ESM.

BLACKSBURG, Va., Feb. 16, 2005 – On October 4, 2004, SpaceShipOne became the first private manned spacecraft to exceed an altitude of 328,000 feet twice within the span of a 14 day period, thus claiming the ten million dollar Ansari X-Prize. In addition to meeting the altitude requirement to win the X-Prize, Brian Binnie also broke the August 22, 1963 record by Joseph A. Walker, by flying to 367,442 feet or 69.6 miles above the Earth's surface.

ESM undergraduates should inform Ms. Sandie Griffin if they are interested in attending a small-group lecture or a reception. Our graduate students should do likewise by contacting Ms. Joyce Smith. Seating at these small events is very limited but please be assured that we will do our best to accommodate the entire ESM family.

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