Breaking News: Trailblazing Private Spaceship is Airborne

Posted on: Sep. 29th, 2004 || Source: space.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

MOJAVE, CALIFORNIA – A privately built and financed rocketship departed here today, headed for the first run at back-to-back flights to win the $10 million Ansari X Prize.

The $10 million X Prize goes to the first privately built vehicle that can haul a pilot and two passengers to the edge of space, then repeat the feat within two weeks.

SpaceShipOne is under the controls of a single pilot, but is weighted as if three people were aboard. For the record setting pair of flights, the vehicle will be boosted by a larger, stronger engine than that used for its last piloted flight on June 21.

If today's flight is successful, SpaceShipOne must then repeat the feat by Oct. 13.

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