Post by xkamelx on Jun 22, 2004 7:05:45 GMT -5
From Space.com -
MOJAVE, CALIFORNIA – The first non-governmental rocket ship flew to the edge of space today and was piloted to a safe landing on a desert airport runway here.
Civilian test pilot, now turned astronaut Mike Melvill brought SpaceShipOne down to the Mojave Airport tarmac after flying to 100 kilometers (62 miles) in altitude, leaving the Earth’s atmosphere during his history-making sub-orbital space ride.
After touchdown, Melvill rolled past thousands of spectators in the early morning Sun, flashing the thumbs up. Then he got out and spoke to the cheering crowd.
"The flight was spectacular," Melvill said. "Looking out that window, seeing the white clouds in the LA Basin, it looked like snow on the ground."
Roaring to life
Take-off occurred at about 9:45 a.m. ET, or 6:45 a.m. local time, with SpaceShipOne tucked under the White Knight carrier craft.
Once set free an hour later, and after a few seconds of glide control at around 47,000 feet, Melvill ignited SpaceShipOne’s hybrid rocket motor. From the ground, flame and smoke could be seen as the rocket plane roared to life and shot upward through Mojave Desert skies. Slicing skyward and outside the Earth’s atmosphere, the vehicle and pilot spent about three minutes in freefall weightlessness.
"As I got to the top I released a bag of M&Ms in the cockpit. It was amazing," said Melvill, 62.
During the reentry process, Melvill flipped SpaceShipOne’s large tail section up, a step needed to slow the vehicle down as it nosed itself toward a terra firm touchdown.
After the speed-reducing maneuver, SpaceShipOne’s tail piece was put back into glide mode. The vehicle circled overhead as onlookers who had filled up local motels and camped at the airport cheered. The craft landed at around 11:15 a.m. ET directly in front of a public viewing area on the same runway on which it took off roughly an hour and a half earlier.
Melvill reported hearing a bang during the high-altitude portion of the flight. Something was seen hanging from the bottom of the craft at the landing site. There appeared to be damage at or near the left rear landing gear, but it was not clear if it had anything to do with the bang.
Click Here For Complete Article.
MOJAVE, CALIFORNIA – The first non-governmental rocket ship flew to the edge of space today and was piloted to a safe landing on a desert airport runway here.
Civilian test pilot, now turned astronaut Mike Melvill brought SpaceShipOne down to the Mojave Airport tarmac after flying to 100 kilometers (62 miles) in altitude, leaving the Earth’s atmosphere during his history-making sub-orbital space ride.
After touchdown, Melvill rolled past thousands of spectators in the early morning Sun, flashing the thumbs up. Then he got out and spoke to the cheering crowd.
"The flight was spectacular," Melvill said. "Looking out that window, seeing the white clouds in the LA Basin, it looked like snow on the ground."
Roaring to life
Take-off occurred at about 9:45 a.m. ET, or 6:45 a.m. local time, with SpaceShipOne tucked under the White Knight carrier craft.
Once set free an hour later, and after a few seconds of glide control at around 47,000 feet, Melvill ignited SpaceShipOne’s hybrid rocket motor. From the ground, flame and smoke could be seen as the rocket plane roared to life and shot upward through Mojave Desert skies. Slicing skyward and outside the Earth’s atmosphere, the vehicle and pilot spent about three minutes in freefall weightlessness.
"As I got to the top I released a bag of M&Ms in the cockpit. It was amazing," said Melvill, 62.
During the reentry process, Melvill flipped SpaceShipOne’s large tail section up, a step needed to slow the vehicle down as it nosed itself toward a terra firm touchdown.
After the speed-reducing maneuver, SpaceShipOne’s tail piece was put back into glide mode. The vehicle circled overhead as onlookers who had filled up local motels and camped at the airport cheered. The craft landed at around 11:15 a.m. ET directly in front of a public viewing area on the same runway on which it took off roughly an hour and a half earlier.
Melvill reported hearing a bang during the high-altitude portion of the flight. Something was seen hanging from the bottom of the craft at the landing site. There appeared to be damage at or near the left rear landing gear, but it was not clear if it had anything to do with the bang.
Click Here For Complete Article.