Scaling the Skies
Today, Scaled Composites plans to launch SpaceShipOne from Mojave Airport in California. If succesful, it will be the first ever private manned space flight. The crew of three will have to reach an altitude of 62 miles (100 km, which is where space officially begins) and then repeat the feat within two weeks with the same ship to win the X Prize, which is worth $10 million. The ship will not orbit the earth: the lowest practical altitude for earth orbit is about 100 miles.
If I’ve done my maths right, take-off is planned for 14.30 British Summer Time (6.30 am PDT).
UPDATE — SpaceShipOne completed its flight successfully, touching down at Mojave at 08.15 PDT. The team will try for the X prize at a later date.