Space.com is reporting that Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites has flown a sucessful powered flight of SpaceShipOne, reaching an altitude of 41 miles with all systems operational.
With pilot Mike Melvill at the controls -- following release from the White Knight turbojet-powered launch aircraft high above the Mojave, California desert -- SpaceShipOne punched through the sky today boosted by a hybrid propellant rocket motor.According to the Scaled Composites website, this is their 3rd powered flight. Looks like the next 2 flights might be the real deal.
Scaled Composites of Mojave is the builder of SpaceShipOne, an effort led by aviation innovator, Burt Rutan. The financial backer of the project is Microsoft mogul, Paul Allen.
In a post-flight statement from the company, the SpaceShipOne team reported that their space plane flew to 212,000 feet altitude, almost 41 miles. NASA awards astronaut status to anyone who flies above 50 miles in altitude.