Third Powered Flight Sets New Records

SpaceDev's hybrid rocket motor technology successfully propelled SpaceShipOne on its third, and record-breaking, manned flight on May 13, 2004. SpaceShipOne accelerated to record setting altitudes and speed, both higher than in previous powered flights, thus bringing the Scaled Composites team a step closer to winning the $10 million Ansari X-Prize.

The White Knight carrier released SpaceShipOne at 46,000 feet, and SpaceDev's hybrid rocket motor was ignited 10 seconds after release and burned for the full planned 55 seconds. The rocket ship, with pilot Mike Melvill at the controls, achieved a speed of Mach 2.5 and climbed to 211,400 feet, over 40 miles above the Earth, and 106,400 feet further toward space than the previous record of 105,000 feet. NASA and the Air Force award astronaut wings at 50 miles.

SpaceShipOne's first powered flight took place on December 17, 2003, with SpaceDev's hybrid motor firing for 15 seconds. A second powered flight occurred on April 8th of this year. In that mission, the motor burned for 40 seconds. Scaled Composites spokesperson Kaye LeFebvre told TechNewsWorld that Scaled next plans to push a test flight higher to the 100-kilometer mark, or about 62.5 miles. "With today's flight, much of the major technical challenges have been overcome. It's just a matter of going higher with more people," said Scaled Composites founder Burt Rutan. LeFebvre said that Scaled would work to add additional occupants to the craft to meet the X-Prize requirement for three travelers.

"This most recent SpaceShipOne flight, powered by SpaceDev's hybrid rocket propulsion system, flying higher and faster than before, is like a dream made to come true through the imagination and skill of the SpaceDev and Scaled engineers," said Benson. "These flights are helping SpaceDev realize our mission of moving space flight to the private sector and opening it to the general public. Some surveys and analysts project the possibility of a multibillion commercial space tourism business, and SpaceDev intends to participate in that market to the fullest extent possible. These successful, private sector rocket-powered human flights demonstrate that the commercial sector can supply safe and affordable human space flight. As a company, all of us here are excited that SpaceDev is helping make space happen for all of humanity," added Benson.

FMI: www.spacedev.com, www.scaled.com