Plane Soars Out of Earth's Atmosphere

[Mark Sman]

http://hosted.ap.org/photos/C/CARS10706211534-big.jpg

Plane Soars Out of Earth's Atmosphere

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/P/PRIVATE_ROCKET?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=HOME

By JOHN ANTCZAK
Associated Press Writer

MOJAVE, Calif. (AP) -- A rocket plane soared above Earth's atmosphere Monday in the first privately financed manned spaceflight, then glided back to Earth for an unpowered landing.

SpaceShipOne pilot Mike Melvill was aiming to fly 62 miles above the Earth's surface. The exact altitude reached was not immediately confirmed by radar.

The ship touched down at Mojave Airport to applause and cheers at 8:15 a.m. PDT, about 90 minutes after it was carried aloft slung under the belly of the jet-powered White Knight.

The mission announcer said the mission had been successful.

"Beautiful sight, Mike," mission control said to Melvill as the gliding spaceship slowly circled toward its landing.

Later, standing on the tarmac beside the ship, Melvill said seeing the Earth from outside the atmosphere was "almost a religious experience."

"You can see the curvature of the Earth," he said. "You got a hell of a view from 60, 62 miles."

[Herrmannek]

Just to nitpick: Id didn't went above earth's atmosphere.... but about rest woot woot woot woot woot woot woot

[Mark Sman]

The radar info will tell how high it went. This is only a test run for the X-prize. In order to actually qualify the first leg, it has to have three people aboard I think.

Still, pretty cool milestone. It has to be a civillian plane altitude record of some sort.

[ZeroPositive]

very awesome indeed :)
Space here we come!

[Ghostwolf]

The radar info will tell how high it went. This is only a test run for the X-prize. In order to actually qualify the first leg, it has to have three people aboard I think


That's right. Not only that, it's turnaround time has to be around 2 weeks in order to qualify.

[AFACadet]

woot woot woot woot woot woot woot woot woot

First non-governmental manned vehicle just went into space

woot woot woot woot woot woot woot woot woot

[Caribou Kid]

This is a really, really cool thing that happened today. History being written before our eyes...

I made a point of trying to see as much of the live coverage of this flight on CNN as I could. Did the same thing way back when the Rutan Voyager touched down, too... (Okay, so I'm showing my vintage a bit here...) ;)

First there was Steve Fosset and his Ballooning circumnavigation, and now Burt Rutan punches into low orbit! 21st Century American pioneering spirit is alive and kicking, folks! Let's hear it for rich American innovators! woot

So stick that in your burkha and smoke it, Osama! :slap:

[Moledet]

nice, but if i'm not wrong they didn't get out of Earth's gravity area so they can't land on the moon or any other planet.

[Uncle Chô]

woot Remember the movie " The Right Stuff " (1984) with Sam Shepard / Chuck Yeager trying to reach the upper limits with his NF-104??? ;)

[Herrmannek]

Once again woot woot woot woot woot woot woot woot woot woot woot

[Midav]

Cool! woot

[Trigger]

Fly, on your way, like an eagle,
Fly as high as the sun.
On your way, like an eagle,
Fly and touch the sun...
woot

[moughoun]

A hell of a lot of respect for the pilot, at 62 most men are gardening woot woot

[Ratamacue]

woot Remember the movie " The Right Stuff " (1984) with Sam Shepard / Chuck Yeager trying to reach the upper limits with his NF-104??? ;)

If I'm not mistaken, didn't he actually do that? Crazy motherf*cker, that Yeager.

[Smoothie104]

Fly, on your way, like an eagle,
Fly as high as the sun.
On your way, like an eagle,
Fly and touch the sun...
woot


I love Maiden!