SpaceShipOne Successfully Completes First Ansari X-Prize Flight Attempt

On June 21st Mike Melvill piloted SpaceShipOne to a height of 100 km (62 miles) and into the history books and record books as the world’s first private manned space flight. (Scaled Composites photo)

Sept. 30/Satnews Daily/ — SpaceShipOne, the first privately built manned vehicle to built by Mojave Aerospace Ventures soared into space and back again yesterday successfully completing its first Ansari X-Prize flight attempt.

The flight was not without tense moments. During ascent, SpaceShipOne started rolling as it neared space. But the craft piloted by 62-year-old South African-born Michael Melvill landed safely in a launch site in the Mojave Desert in California after reaching an altitude of more than 100 kilometers, organizers said. The onboard camera showed a smooth descent.

Mojave Aerospace, owned by billionaire Paul G. Allen, said a failed actuator was the most likely cause of the roll.

At a height of 48,000, Mojave Aerospace said the White Knight plane released SpaceShipOne. Melvill then flew the ship to an unofficial height of 358,000 feet.

For Mojave Aerospace to win the $10 million X-Prize they must complete a second manned flight within two weeks. The award is offered by the private X Prize Foundation to spur space tourism.

The next scheduled flight is Monday, October 3 but after the wild corkscrew ride, next Monday's launch could be delayed, some sources say.

Aside from the X-Prize award, the test flight is closely monitored by the satellite industry after British tycoon Richard Branson announced earlier this week it won an agreement with MAV to license its technology. Branson also formed Virgin Galactic and said it will start carrying passengers to space in 2007.

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