MOJAVE, Calif. - A jet-powered airplane with a rocket plane slung under its belly took off early Monday for an attempt to make the first privately financed manned flight into space.
The exotic White Knight mothership lifted off at about 6:45 a.m. PDT on a spiraling flight that was to take an hour to reach an altitude of about 50,000 feet, where it would release SpaceShipOne.
Mike Melvill, the solo pilot of SpaceShipOne, was to then ignite the rocket's motor and attempt to soar 62 miles high. It would then make an unpowered glide to Mojave Airport.
Source:Sun-Sentinel.com
The spacecraft N328KF, was made by Scale Composites LLC, designed by aviation expert Burt Rutan, with funding from millonairre Paul Allen. The spacecraft is actually registered as a GLIDER with the FAA, since when it's in the atmosphere it doesn't use the rocket engine.
EDIT:
The flight was completed succesfully today with the landing happening around 11:15am EST. The suborbital flight lasted around 3.5 min and he achieved weightlessness state, proved by a bunch on M&Ms flying around him!!!
Mike Melvill has become the first civilian astronaut to pilot into spaceby a private company. NASA recognizes an astronaut after he has flown above the 100km mark, which Mike passed
The exotic White Knight mothership lifted off at about 6:45 a.m. PDT on a spiraling flight that was to take an hour to reach an altitude of about 50,000 feet, where it would release SpaceShipOne.
Mike Melvill, the solo pilot of SpaceShipOne, was to then ignite the rocket's motor and attempt to soar 62 miles high. It would then make an unpowered glide to Mojave Airport.
Source:Sun-Sentinel.com
The spacecraft N328KF, was made by Scale Composites LLC, designed by aviation expert Burt Rutan, with funding from millonairre Paul Allen. The spacecraft is actually registered as a GLIDER with the FAA, since when it's in the atmosphere it doesn't use the rocket engine.
EDIT:
The flight was completed succesfully today with the landing happening around 11:15am EST. The suborbital flight lasted around 3.5 min and he achieved weightlessness state, proved by a bunch on M&Ms flying around him!!!
Mike Melvill has become the first civilian astronaut to pilot into spaceby a private company. NASA recognizes an astronaut after he has flown above the 100km mark, which Mike passed
Comment