Branson Hope As Space Ship Flies Again
Posted on: Thursday, 30 September 2004, 06:00 CDT
AN AIRCRAFT which promises to one day take tourists beyond the Earth's atmosphere made a nail-biting ascent into space yesterday. Spectators and controllers watched in horror as SpaceShipOne, piloted by Mike Melvill, appeared to spin out of control overCalifornia's Mojave Desert.
It dramatically rolled more than two dozen times as it rocketed towards its target height of 62 miles.
But after reaching sub-orbital space, Melvill regained control and piloted the ship safely back to Earth. It was the second time that SpaceShipOne - the inspiration behind Sir Richard Branson's dream of commercial space travel - had reached sub-orbitalspace.
SpaceShipOne was carried high into the air anchored beneath a twin--engine White Knight plane.
They separated at around 50,000ft and the space ship rocketed away.
If the privately funded craft can repeat the mission within two weeks, the creators, led by aviation pioneer Burt Rutan, will collect the pounds 5.5million Ansari X-Prize, established in 1996 to encourage commercial space flight.
Earlier this week, Branson announced he was teaming up with Rutan with the aim of providing space tourism by 2008.
The pounds 60million Virgin Galactic plan is to shoot passengers 62 miles above the Earth in a two to three-hour journey that would include four minutes of weightlessness.
Each spacecraft will carry five passengers at a price of pounds 115,000 each, which will include three days of pre-flight training. Virgin Galactic expect 3000 customers in the first five years.
SpaceShipOne made its maiden voyage into space in June.
It did not go according to plan. There were serious control malfunctions and Melvill admitted he was afraid that he would not survive.
Yesterday, there was added weight on board to simulate conditions with three passengers - one of the conditions of the prize.
Melvill said after landing: 'Did I plan the roll? I'd like to say I did but I didn't. Probably I stepped on something too quickly and caused it.'
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