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SpaceShipOne ready for record

The launch of the first private, manned sub-orbital rocket has been planned for June 21.

If all goes well, Burt Rutan’s SpaceShipOne will make history by soaring 100 kilometers (62 miles) into sub-orbital space above the Mojave Civilian Aerospace Test Center in California, before returning to Earth.

The pilot, who will be revealed at a later date, will become the first person to earn astronaut wings in a non-government sponsored vehicle, and the first private civilian to fly a spaceship out of the atmosphere.

“If the launch is successful, it will demonstrate that the space frontier is finally open to private enterprise. This event could be the breakthrough that will enable space access for future generations,” Rutan’s company Scaled Composites said.

“Without the entrepreneur approach, space access would continue to be out of reach for ordinary citizens. The SpaceShipOne flights will change all that and encourage others to usher in a new, low-cost era in space travel,” Rutan said.

The project is being funded by investor and philanthropist Paul G. Allen, founder and chairman of Vulcan Inc. “This flight is the most exciting and challenging activity taking place in the fields of aviation and aerospace today,” he said. “SpaceShipOne has the potential to launch a new wave of space exploration and to capture the imagination of millions of future space pioneers.”

Today’s announcement (June 2) came after SpaceShipOne completed a test flight on May 13 in which pilot Mike Melvill reached a height of 211,400ft (approximately 40 miles).

Unlike any previous manned space mission, the June flight will allow the public to view, up close, the takeoff and landing as well as the overhead rocket boost to space.

Scaled is one of 26 teams competing for the Ansari X-Prize of $10 million to be awarded for the first non-government manned spacecraftthat carries three people to an altitude of 100km, returns safely to Earth and repeats the feat within two weeks using the same vehicle.

You can find out more and keep up-to-date <a href=”http://www.scaled.com” target=”_blank”>here</a>

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