The SpaceShipOne rocket carried a test pilot Mike Melvill, 62, to heights only a few NASA astronauts and US Air Force pilots have reached.
The aviation milestone also propelled the aircraft's designer, Burt Rutan, to the forefront in the race to win the $US10 million ($14.5 million) Ansari X Prize, a competition to spur development of commercial space flight. It calls for launching a three-passenger craft to 100,000 metres twice within two weeks
"You just can't imagine what a thrill it was. I had tears in my eyes," Mr Rutan said.
The 64,000 metres altitude is generally considered the boundary where space begins, although the US Air Force gives pilots astronaut wings if they go above 80,000 metres.
The first team to complete the task by the end of this year wins the purse set by the X Foundation, the St Louis-based sponsor of the competition. However, the rocket must be built and operated without any government funds or involvement.
Los Angeles Times
> I was watching coverage on CNN and the ship designer, Burt Rutan, always talked about the 100 km altitude they were shooting for.
>
> jdd
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Nat Hager III <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Jun 21, 2004 2:27 PM
> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Subject: [USMA:30179] SpaceShipOne
>
> This "62 miles" business certainly gets tiring....
>
> http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040621/D83BG9CO2.html
>
> Nat
>
>
