Aero-News Alert: THEY DID IT! | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-11.17.25

AirborneNextGen-
11.11.25

Airborne-Unlimited-11.12.25

Airborne-FltTraining-11.13.25

AirborneUnlimited-11.14.25

LIVE MOSAIC Town Hall (Archived): www.airborne-live.net

Tue, Jun 22, 2004

Aero-News Alert: THEY DID IT!

Privately-Funded Spacecraft Makes It To 100 KM Milestone

Burt Rutan's SpaceShipOne, piloted by 62-year old Mike Melvill (below), achieved its goal Monday. He boosted to an altitude of just slightly over 328,000 feet -- 62.5 miles -- becoming the world's first private-industry astronaut.

The flight was not without some tense moments. Melvill was forced to resort to some alternate control systems when primary trim systems failed in flight. ANN Publisher Jim Campbell, flying just feet away from Scaled's SpaceShipOne in a Beechcraft Starship chase plane, was the first to report some indications of possible thermal or load damage on the aft portion of the spacecraft, just in front of the rocket bell. Worst of all... a momentary communications glitch at the apex of Mike's flight caused everyone a few nervous moments until Mike started talking again. Ultimately though, a thorough check by all three chase planes revealed Melvill's ship was sound for landing. He made a perfect touchdown at the airport in Mojave (CA) at 1114 EDT.

FMI: www.scaled.com

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (11.19.25): Option Approach

Option Approach An approach requested and conducted by a pilot which will result in either a touch-and-go, missed approach, low approach, stop-and-go, or full stop landing. Pilots >[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (11.19.25)

"Emirates is already the world's largest Boeing 777 operator, and we are expanding our commitment to the program today with additional orders for 65 Boeing 777-9s. This is a long-t>[...]

NTSB Final Report: Sting Sport TL-2000

(Pilot) Reported That There Was A Sudden And Violent Vibration Throughout The Airplane That Lasted Several Seconds Analysis: The pilot was returning to his home airport at an altit>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (11.20.25)

“This recognition was evident during the TBMOPA Annual Convention, where owners and operators clearly expressed their satisfaction with our focus on customer service, and enc>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (11.20.25): Overhead Maneuver

Overhead Maneuver A series of predetermined maneuvers prescribed for aircraft (often in formation) for entry into the visual flight rules (VFR) traffic pattern and to proceed to a >[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC