SpaceShipOne was launched this morning 10 nautical miles east of Mojave, California, then hauled skyward to 47,000 feet and released from its 'White Knight' carrier aircraft to rocket up into low-earth orbit at 100 km/60 miles. Mike Melvill was the pilot for this historic first full flight of a privately-funded space plane.
"According to a flight report issued by Scaled Composites, separation between the two vehicles was clean and positive.... Handling qualities of the vehicle as it sped through the air were reportedly in close correlation with ground-based simulations. Onboard avionics and cockpit displays that gave the pilot handling information during the glide test performed flawlessly. The vehicle made a smooth touchdown, with the entire flight – from launch to touchdown – viewable from the ground.
Full schematics, photos, etc. available here. Meanwhile, spaceblogger Rand Simberg is blogging from on site. From attending the pre-flight spectators' rave (not bad for an old guy) to his pre-flight report from the scene, and follow-ups to this successful flight.
UPDATE: In fact, the flight was not entirely successful - it was a very near thing. But that's why they have test flights, and I'm sure the Scaled Composites team will be right back at it. Ad astra, per aspera....
COVERAGE:
- April 19/03: Private Manned Spaceplane Unveiled as the craft makes its first test flight.
- Dec 18/03: SpaceShipOne breaks Mach One in a test flight.
- Juune 8/04: The system prepares for its first space flight. Go, SpaceShipOne, Go!
- June 21/04: First full flight successful!
- Sept 29/04: SpaceShipOne makes its first official X-Prize flight, and succeeds. That flight had some scary moments, though.
- Oct 5/04: Mission Accomplished! SpaceshipOne wins the X-Prize, and breaks the X-15's manned altitude record for an aircraft.
To infinity and beyond!
Everyone notes that the plane detached at 47,000 feet, but exactly how far did it make it up? It had make 62.5 miles for the X-Prize contest right? It'll be interesting to see if they reload the vehicle and get it back up within two weeks. Considering the smooth flight, it certainly seems promising.
Given how much we now know went wrong on this flight, it's amazing the pilot came back at all.
They appear to have had a very close call.
I heard the prize winner has to carry 3 passengers, not just one pilot.
Well, it's not quite commercial activity in space yet ... getting up beyond the atmosphere is one (huge) accomplishment, but achieving escape velocity and enduring voyages is the harder part, and the more complex.
That said, this is a great first start!
SPACESHIP ONE ES LA CLARA DEMOSTRACIÓN DE LA HABILIDAD E INTELIGENCIA DE UN HOMBRE. MIENTRAS VARIAS NACIONES REQUIRIERON CIENTOS DE MILES DE MILLONES DE U$S PARA ALCANZAR EL ESPACIO SUPERIOR, RUTAN CON HUMILDAD Y CON FE, UTILIZANDO RECURSOS VERDADERAMENTE ESCASOS MOSTRO AL MUNDO UNA VERDADERA CREACIÓN INSPIRADA EN DIOS. FELICITACIONES
Jorge, es verdad.
Pero qué coño dices. Jorge, eres un meapilas retrasado mental.