ScienceDaily (Sep. 30, 2004) — September 29, 2004 -- At 8:13 this morning PDT, SpaceShipOne (SS1) coasted above the 100 km altitude point and successfully completed the first of two X-Prize flights. The peak altitude reached was 337,500 ft. The motor was shut down when the pilot, Mike Melvill, noted that his altitude predictor exceeded the required 100 km mark. The motor burn lasted 77 seconds – 1 second longer than on the June 21st flight. Melvill was prepared to burn the motor up to 89 seconds, which indicates significant additional performance remains in SS1.

The second X-Prize flight is tentatively scheduled for Monday, October 4.

More details, photos and video will follow soon.

Video link : Complete webcast video at X-Prize website (http://www.xprize.org/webcast/webcast.php)

SpaceShipOne is shown gliding back to base during flight 15P in an air-to-air photograph. (Photo courtesy of Scaled Composites, LLC)

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