For the first time ever, the FAA has given a license to a Mojave California private firm to fly into space. I can tell you, that out here in the clear, clean skies of the high desert next to the Sierras, we are all watching for the contrails of the first private rocket into space. Their flight path is right over our fair city of Ridgecrest.
Source: Gimli News Service
“US outfit Scaled Composites is one step closer to its dream of private space travel, after the Federal Aviation Authority greenlighted its “SpaceShipOne” for sub-orbital flights.
The vehicle is chasing the X-prize – a $10m bounty intended to ‘jumpstart the space tourism industry through competition between the most talented entrepreneurs and rocket experts in the world.’
It’s all pretty straightforward. All you have to do to claim the cash is be the first developer who:
Privately finances, builds & launches a spaceship, able to carry three people to 100 kilometres (62.5 miles)
Returns safely to Earth
Repeats the launch with the same ship within 2 weeks
A tall order, even for California-based Scaled Composites, a firm which boasts the backing of MS walking wallet Paul Allen and the skills of Burt Rutan – he of non-stop-round-the-world Voyager fame.
Time will tell if this potent combination of brains and financial brawn will – as many space pundits predict – pull off the impressive feat sometime during 2004.”
Predictions are for late May or early June. You are welcome to come watch the first commercial venture into space.
UPDATE:
“The privately-backed SpaceShipOne suborbital rocket plane made its second powered flight earlier today.
Built by Scaled Composites of Mojave, California, the piloted vehicle was powered by a hybrid rocket motor to over 105,000 feet. The engine burned for 40 seconds, zipping to Mach 2, or two times the speed of sound, according to a source that witnessed the test flight high above Mojave, California skies.”
Landing was without incident at the Mojave Spaceport (Mojave Regional Airport).
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