Free Republic

Tense Moments During Trailblazing Private Space Flight By Leonard David Senior Space Writer posted: 29 September 2004 11:28 am ET Updated at 1:40 p.m. ET "Now that was fun." -- Pilot Mike Melvill MOJAVE, CALIFORNIA – In a white-knuckle flight that could nonetheless herald a new era of space tourism, a privately built, three-person rocket ship successfully flew to space and back today. The craft, SpaceShipOne, made an unscripted series of rolls near the top of its flight. The engine was shut down early. The flight terrified some who watched from the ground and on a live webcast. However, pilot...