In 1903, two brothers who owned a bicycle repair shop believed that man could fly, and set out to prove it. Now, 105 years later, engineer and Star Systems’ founder Morris Jarvis believes that “anyone who wants to should be able to take a trip into space.” His Hermes Spacecraft is intended to do just that. Begun in 1993 in his garage in Phoenix, Arizona, the Hermes spacecraft is scheduled to make its maiden flight in October, at Bonneville Salt Flats, in Utah.

While it remains to be seen whether Bonneville Salt Flats will be remembered with the same reverence as Kitty Hawk, with such powerful sponsors as Intel, GE, and ADI Engineering, Hermes has more than a fighting chance. Should the upcoming tests prove to be a success, Jarvis plans to “provide trips for about the price of a new car.” Looks like Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic has some competition.