Rocket firm sells discount rides to space

The space tourism race heated up on Tuesday when a second company began offering tickets for suborbital rides at less than half the price of competitor Virgin Galactic's.

XCOR Aerospace Inc of California said it is partnering with long-time tour developer and operator Jules Klar, co-creator of the 1960s-era Europe on $5 a Day guides, to sell rides aboard its Lynx spaceship for $95,000.

The two-seat Lynx craft is under development at XCOR's Mojave Desert base and test flights are scheduled to begin in 2010. Danish investment banker Per Wimmer will take the first ride when paid flights begin, possibly as early as 2011.