Posted on 06/02/2004 10:46:44 AM PDT by alnitak
Scaled Composites, the company behind the first private manned spacecraft, will launch it into space on 21 June carrying an as yet unnamed astronaut.
SpaceShipOne is built by aerospace pioneer Burt Rutan who hopes to win the Ansari X-prize of $10m (£5.7m) for the first private flight into space.
The craft has to reach an altitude of 100km (329,000ft) twice in two weeks to win.
A total of 25 other teams across the world are competing for the prize.
First private astronaut
SPACE FLIGHT ATTEMPT
SpaceShipOne boosts itself into the atmosphere
It aims for an altitude of 100km (62 miles)
Wings fold up to provide "feather" effect
Converts back to non-feathered glider
|
Aviation history is set to be made on 21 June if SpaceShipOne becomes the first privately-built spacecraft to go into space.
Last month it completed an impressive demonstration over Mojave airport, when SpaceShipOne and its carrier aircraft White Knight moved a step closer to claiming the X-prize. Pilot Mike Melvill took the vehicle closer to space than any non-governmental craft has been.
Its 64km (211,000ft) altitude was twice as high as SpaceShipOne had been piloted to before.
To win the Ansari X-Prize, that altitude - 100km (329,000ft), the official boundary of space - has to be reached twice in two-weeks by a three-man spacecraft.
SpaceShipOne's 14 shakedown tests have now put it into a position to make the bid for space.
Burt Rutan's company Scaled Composites has already become the first non-governmental body to be granted a launch licence when the US Federal Aviation Authority gave it one on 1 April.
The X-prize will mark a new era in manned spaceflight when private companies are able to make short sub-orbital hops for paying customers.
It is hoped that a market for space tourism can be developed. But in reality, only a very few rich passengers will be able to be carried into space by one or two companies for the foreseeable future.
So would whoever flies this get astronaut wings? I suppose not, but that brings on a more general question as civilian space travel opens up: who exactly is an "astronaut"? Will flying for NASA make you an astronaut and Rosaviakosmos a cosmonaut and if you fly privately are you just a space traveler?
I think the term astronaut should probably be reserved for the specific government job, but I believe they've given shuttleworth and tito astronaut wings, so its already becoming a question.
oops, sorry about the double post
Best I recall, Mr Rutan has never had a failure.
Taps the creative juices, does the math, does the physics, applies the aeronautics, does the construction -- and experiences first time, first flight, success.
Quite the American Man!
Yes it is awesome. Thanks.
Well, tomorrow is the big day. Is any cable station going to cover this live? I'm sure most of the news outlets will cut to the launch and recovery, but is anyone planning on being on scene live for the entire duration of the flight?
I think CNN will be, however since I will be at work (UK based) it will be an evening show. In fact I may not see it until tomorrow since England play Croatia in Euro2004 tonight :-)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.