SpaceShipOne

{{Short description|American experimental spaceplane}} {{Redirect|Space Ship One|the album by Paul Gilbert|Space Ship One (album)}} {{Infobox aircraft |name = SpaceShipOne |image = SpaceShipOne Flight 15P photo D Ramey Logan.jpg |caption = SpaceShipOne after its flight into space, June 2004. |type = [[Spaceplane]] |manufacturer = [[Scaled Composites]] |designer = [[Burt Rutan]] |first_flight = {{Start date|2003|05|20|df=y}} |retired = {{End date|2004|10|04|df=y}} |status = |primary_user = [[Mojave Aerospace Ventures]] |produced = |number_built = 1 |unit cost = |developed_from = |variants = |developed_into = [[SpaceShipTwo]] |other_names =  |construction_number =  |construction_date =  |civil_registration =  |military_serial =  |radio_code =  |owners =  |in_service =  |flights =  |total_hours =  |total_distance =  |fate =  |preservation = [[National Air and Space Museum]]  }}

'''SpaceShipOne''' is an experimental [[air launch|air-launched]] [[rocket-powered aircraft]] with [[sub-orbital spaceflight]] capability at speeds of up to {{convert|3000|ft/s|mph|abbr=on}} / {{convert|910|m/s|kph|abbr=on}} using a [[hybrid rocket]] motor. The design features a unique "[[Feathering (reentry)|feathering]]" [[atmospheric reentry]] system where the rear half of the wing and the [[twin tail]] booms folds 70 degrees upward along a hinge running the length of the wing; this increases [[drag (physics)|drag]] while retaining stability. SpaceShipOne completed the first [[human spaceflight|crewed]] [[private spaceflight]] in 2004. That same year, it won the US$10 million [[Ansari X Prize]] and was immediately retired from active service. Its [[Mother ship (aviation)|mother ship]] was named "[[Scaled Composites White Knight|White Knight]]". Both craft were developed and flown by [[Mojave Aerospace Ventures]], which was a joint venture between [[Paul Allen]] and [[Scaled Composites]], [[Burt Rutan]]'s aviation company. Allen provided the funding of approximately US$25 million.

Rutan has indicated that ideas about the project began as early as 1994 and the full-time development cycle time to the 2004 accomplishments was about three years.{{citation needed|date=July 2018|reason=Not mentioned in the main text.}} The vehicle first achieved supersonic flight on December 17, 2003, which was also the one-hundredth anniversary of the [[Wright Brothers]]' historic first powered flight. SpaceShipOne's first official spaceflight, known as [[SpaceShipOne flight 15P|flight 15P]], was piloted by [[Mike Melvill]]. A few days before that flight, the [[Mojave Air and Space Port]] was the first commercial spaceport licensed in the United States. A few hours after that flight, Melvill became the first licensed U.S. [[commercial astronaut]]. The overall project name was "[[Scaled Composites Tier One|Tier One]]" which has evolved into [[Tier 1b]] with a goal of taking a successor ship's first passengers into space.

The achievements of SpaceShipOne are more comparable to those of the [[North American X-15|X-15]] than to those of orbiting spacecraft like the [[Space Shuttle]]. Accelerating a spacecraft to [[orbital speed]] requires more than 60 times as much energy as accelerating it to Mach 3. It would also require an elaborate heat shield to safely dissipate that energy during re-entry.<ref name="WiredElonMuskIsBettingHisFortuneOnAMissionBeyondEarthsOrbit">{{cite news|last1=Hoffman|first1=Carl|title=Elon Musk Is Betting His Fortune on a Mission Beyond Earth's Orbit|url=https://www.wired.com/2007/05/ff-space-musk/|access-date=30 August 2007|publisher=[[Wired (website)|Wired]]|date=22 May 2007}}</ref>

SpaceShipOne's official model designation is Scaled Composites Model 316.

==Design== {{more citations needed|section|date=June 2017}}

===Design goal=== The '''Scaled Composites Model 316''',<ref name="SpaceNewsPreludeToHistory">{{cite news|last1=Foust|first1=Jeff|author-link1=Jeff Foust|title=Prelude to history?|url=http://www.thespacereview.com/article/166/1|access-date=21 December 2015|work=[[The Space Review]]|publisher=[[SpaceNews]]|date=21 June 2004}}</ref> known as '''SpaceShipOne''', was a [[spaceplane]] designed to: * Carry three humans (one of them a [[pilot (spaceflight)|pilot]]) in a sea-level pressurized cabin. * Be propelled by [[rocket]] from an altitude of {{convert|15|km|abbr=on}} to in excess of {{convert|100|km|abbr=on}}. * Reenter atmosphere and shed kinetic energy in an [[aerodynamic]]ally stable configuration. * Glide transonically and subsonically. * Land horizontally on a standard [[runway]].

===Vehicle description=== The fuselage is cigar-shaped, with an overall diameter of about {{convert|1.52|m|abbr=on}}. The main structure is of a [[graphite]]/[[epoxy]] [[composite material]]. From front to back, it contains the crew cabin, oxidizer tank, fuel casing, and rocket nozzle. The craft has short, wide wings, with a span of {{convert|5|m|abbr=on}} and a [[Chord (aircraft)|chord]] of {{convert|3|m|abbr=on}}. Large vertical tailbooms are mounted on the end of each wing, with horizontal stabilizers protruding from the tailbooms. It has gear for horizontal landings.

The overall mass of the fully fueled craft is {{convert|3600|kg|abbr=on|lk=in}}, of which {{convert|2700|kg|abbr=on}} is taken by the fully loaded rocket motor. Empty mass of the spacecraft is {{convert|1200|kg|abbr=on}}, including the {{convert|300|kg|abbr=on|adj=on}} empty motor casing.<ref name="ssone">{{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/s/spaceshipone.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228034631/http://astronautix.com/s/spaceshipone.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 28, 2016|title=SpaceShip One|website=www.astronautix.com}}</ref><ref name="sdhyb">{{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/s/spacedevhybrid.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228044350/http://astronautix.com/s/spacedevhybrid.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 28, 2016|title=SpaceDev Hybrid|website=www.astronautix.com}}</ref>

Originally the nozzle protruded from the back, but this turned out to be aerodynamically disadvantageous. In June 2004, between flights [[SpaceShipOne flight 14P|14P]] and [[SpaceShipOne flight 15P|15P]], a fairing was added, smoothly extending the fuselage shape to meet the flared end of the nozzle. On flight 15P the new fairing overheated, due to being black on the inside and facing a hot, black nozzle. The fairing softened, and the lower part crumpled inwards during boost. Following that flight the interior of the fairing was painted white, and some small stiffening ribs were added.

The craft has a single unsteerable and unthrottleable [[hybrid rocket]] motor, a cold gas [[reaction control system]], and aerodynamic [[Flight control surfaces|control surface]]s. All can be controlled manually. See the separate section below concerning the rocket engine.

The reaction control system is the only way to control spacecraft attitude outside the atmosphere. It consists of three sets of thrusters: thrusters at each wingtip control roll, at the top and bottom of the nose control pitch, and at the sides of the fuselage control yaw. All thrusters have redundant backups, so comprising twelve thrusters in all.

The aerodynamic control surfaces of SpaceShipOne are designed to operate in two distinct flight regimes, subsonic and supersonic. The supersonic flight regime is of primary interest during the boost phase of a flight, and the subsonic mode when gliding. The craft has separate upper and lower rudders, and [[elevon]]s. These are controlled using [[aviation]]-style stick and pedals. In supersonic mode the trim tabs are controlled electrically, whereas the subsonic mode uses mechanical cable-and-rod linkage.

The wings of SpaceShipOne can be pneumatically tilted forwards into an aerodynamically stable high-[[drag (physics)|drag]] "feathered" shape. This removes most of the need to control attitude actively during the early part of reentry: Scaled Composites refer to this as "care-free reentry". One of the early test flights actually performed re-entry inverted, demonstrating the flexibility and inherent stability of [[Burt Rutan]]'s "[[shuttlecock]]" design. This feathered reentry mode is claimed to be inherently safer than the behavior at similar speeds of the [[Space Shuttle]]. The Shuttle undergoes enormous aerodynamic stresses and must be precisely steered in order to remain in a stable glide. (Although this is an interesting comparison of behavior, it is not an entirely fair comparison of design concepts: the Shuttle starts reentry at much higher speed than SpaceShipOne, and so has some very different requirements. SpaceShipOne is more similar to the X-15 vehicle.)

An early design called for a permanently shuttlecock-like shape, with a ring of [[feather]]-like stabilising fins. This would have made the spacecraft incapable of landing independently, requiring [[mid-air retrieval]]. This was deemed too risky, and the hybrid final design manages to incorporate the feathering capability into a craft that can land in a conventional manner. The tiltable rear sections of the wings and the tailbooms are collectively referred to as "the feather".

The landing gear consists of two widely separated main wheels and a nose skid. These are deployed using springs, assisted by gravity. Once deployed, they cannot be retracted inflight.

The spacecraft is incapable of independent takeoff from the ground. It requires a launch aircraft to carry it to launch altitude for an [[air launch]].

The parts of the craft that experience the greatest heating, such as the leading edges of the wings, have about {{convert|6.5|kg|abbr=on}} of ablative thermal protection material applied. The main ingredient of this material was accidentally leaked to ''Air and Space''{{Clarify|date=February 2010}}. If it flew with no thermal protection, the spacecraft would survive reentry but would be damaged.

The spacecraft's aerodynamic design has an acknowledged "known deficiency" that makes it susceptible to [[flight dynamics|roll]] excursions. This has been seen on [[SpaceShipOne flight 15P]] where wind shear caused a large roll immediately after ignition, and [[SpaceShipOne flight 16P]] where circumstances not yet fully understood caused multiple rapid rolls. This flaw is not considered dangerous, but in both of these flights led to the achievement of a much lower altitude than expected. The details of the flaw are not public.

===Cabin=== The spacecraft cabin, designed to hold three humans, is shaped as a short cylinder, diameter {{convert|1.52|m|abbr=on}}, with a pointed forward end. The [[pilot (spaceflight)|pilot]] sits towards the front, and two passengers can be seated behind.

The cabin is pressurized, maintaining a [[sea level]] breathable atmosphere. [[Oxygen]] is introduced to the cabin from a bottle, and [[carbon dioxide]] and water vapor are removed by absorbers. The occupants do not wear [[spacesuit]]s or breathing masks, because the cabin has been designed to maintain pressure in the face of faults: all windows and seals are doubled.

The cabin has sixteen round double-pane windows, positioned to provide a view of the horizon at all stages of flight. The windows are small compared to the gaps between them, but there are sufficiently many for human occupants to patch together a moderately good view.

The nose section can be removed, and there is also a hatch below the rear windows on the left side. Crew ingress and egress is possible by either route.

===Spaceplane navigation=== The core of the spacecraft [[avionics]] is the '''System Navigation Unit''' ('''SNU'''). Together with the '''Flight Director Display''' ('''FDD'''), it comprises the '''Flight Navigation Unit'''. The unit was developed jointly by [[Fundamental Technology Systems]] and [[Scaled Composites]].

The SNU is a [[GPS]]-based inertial navigation system, which processes spacecraft sensor data and subsystem health data. It downlinks telemetry data by [[radio]] to mission control.

The FDD displays data from the SNU on a color [[LCD]]. It has several distinct display modes for different phases of flight, including the boost phase, [[coast phase|coast]], reentry, and gliding. The FDD is particularly important to the pilot during the boost and coast phase in order to "turn the corner" and null rates caused by asymmetric thrust. A mix of commercial and bespoke software is used in the FDD.

===Hybrid rocket engine=== Tier One uses a [[hybrid rocket]] [[Rocket engine|engine]] supplied by [[SpaceDev]], with solid [[hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene]] (HTPB, or [[rubber]]) [[fuel]] and liquid [[nitrous oxide]] [[oxidizer]]. It generates {{convert|88|kN|abbr=on}} of thrust, and can burn for about {{convert|87|s|abbr=on}}.

The physical layout of the engine is novel. The oxidizer tank is a primary structural component, and is the only part of the engine that is structurally connected to the spacecraft: the tank is in fact an integral part of the spacecraft fuselage. The tank is a short [[cylinder (geometry)|cylinder]] of diameter approximately {{convert|1.52|m|abbr=on}}, with domed ends, and is the forwardmost part of the engine. The fuel casing is a narrow cylinder [[cantilever]]ed to the tank, pointing backwards. The cantilevered design means that a variety of motor sizes can be accommodated without changing the interface or other components. The [[nozzle]] is a simple extension of the fuel casing; the casing and nozzle are actually a single component, referred to as the '''CTN''' ('''c'''ase, '''t'''hroat, and '''n'''ozzle). [[Burt Rutan]] has applied for a [[patent]] on this engine configuration.

There is considerable use of [[composite material]]s in the engine design. The oxidizer tank consists of a composite liner with [[graphite]]/[[epoxy]] over-wrap and [[titanium]] interface flanges. The CTN uses a high-temperature composite insulator with a graphite/epoxy structure. Incorporating the solid fuel (and hence the main part of the engine) and the [[ablation|ablative]] nozzle into this single bonded component minimizes the possible leak paths.

The oxidizer tank and CTN are bolted together at the main valve bulkhead, which is integrated into the tank. There are [[O-ring]]s at the interface to prevent leakage; this is the main potential leak path in the engine. The ignition system, main control valve, and injector are mounted on the valve bulkhead, inside the tank. Slosh baffles are also mounted on this bulkhead. Because the oxidizer is stored under pressure, no pump is required.

The tank liner and the fuel casing are built in-house by [[Scaled Composites]]. The tank over-wrap is supplied by [[Thiokol]]. The ablative nozzle is supplied by [[AAE Aerospace]]. The oxidizer fill, vent, and dump system is supplied by [[Environmental Aeroscience Corporation]]. The remaining components—the ignition system, main control valve, injector, tank bulkheads, electronic controls, and solid fuel casting—are supplied by [[SpaceDev]].

The CTN must be replaced between firings. This is the only part of the craft, other than the fuel and oxidizer themselves, that must be replaced.

The solid fuel is cast with four holes. This has the disadvantage that it is possible for chunks of fuel between the holes to become detached during a burn and obstruct the flow of oxidizer and exhaust. Such situations tend to rapidly self-correct.

The oxidizer tank is filled and vented through its forward [[Bulkhead (partition)|bulkhead]], on the opposite side of the tank from the fuel and the rest of the engine. This improves safety. It is filled to a pressure of {{convert|4.8|MPa|abbr=on|lk=in}} at [[room temperature]].

The nozzle has an expansion ratio of 25:1, which is optimized for the upper part of the atmosphere. A different nozzle, with an expansion ratio of 10:1, is used for test firing on the ground. The nozzles are black on the outside, but for aerodynamic testing, red dummy nozzles are used instead.

The rocket is not throttleable. Once lit, the burn can be aborted, but the power output cannot otherwise be controlled. The thrust in fact varies, for two reasons. Firstly, as the pressure in the oxidizer tank decreases, the flow rate reduces, reducing thrust. Secondly, in the late stages of a burn the oxidizer tank contains a mixture of liquid and gaseous oxidizer, and the power output of the engine varies greatly depending on whether it is using liquid or gaseous oxidizer at a particular moment. (The liquid, being far denser, allows a greater burn rate.)

Both the fuel and oxidizer can be stored without special precautions, and they do not burn when brought together without a significant source of heat. This makes the rocket far safer than conventional liquid or solid rockets. The combustion products are water vapour, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, nitrogen, nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide.

The engine was upgraded in September 2004, between flights [[SpaceShipOne flight 15P|15P]] and [[SpaceShipOne flight 16P|16P]]. The upgrade increased the oxidizer tank size, to provide greater thrust in the early part of the burn, allow a longer burn, and delay the onset of the variable thrust phase at the end of the burn. Prior to the upgrade the engine generated {{convert|76|kN|abbr=on}} of thrust and could burn for {{convert|76|s|abbr=on}}. After the upgrade it was capable of {{convert|88|kN|abbr=on}} thrust and an {{convert|87|s|abbr=on}} burn.

===Launch aircraft=== {{About|section=yes|design|information on flights made by White Knight|Scaled Composites White Knight}} [[File:White Knight One by Don Ramey Logan.jpg|thumb|White Knight One launch aircraft]] Tier One's launch aircraft, '''Scaled Composites Model 318''', known as '''White Knight''', is designed to take off and land horizontally and attain an altitude of about {{convert|15|km|abbr=on}}, all while carrying the Tier One spacecraft in a [[parasite aircraft]] configuration. Its propulsion is by twin [[turbojet]]s: afterburning J-85-GE-5 engines, rated at {{convert|15.6|kN|abbr=on|lk=in}} of thrust each.

It has the same cabin, [[avionics]], and trim system as SpaceShipOne. This means it can [[flight-qualify]] almost all components of SpaceShipOne. It also has a high thrust-to-weight ratio and large speed brakes. These features combined allow it to be used as a high-fidelity moving platform [[flight simulator]] for SpaceShipOne. White Knight is also equipped with a trim system which (when activated) causes it to have the same glide profile as SpaceShipOne; this allows the pilots to practice for landing SpaceShipOne. The same pilots fly White Knight as fly SpaceShipOne.

The aircraft's distinctive shape features long, thin wings, in a flattened "W" shape, with a wingspan of {{convert|25|m|abbr=on}}, dual tailplanes, and four wheels (front and rear at each side). The rear wheels retract, but the front ones, which are steerable, are permanently deployed, with small fairings, referred to as "spats", in front. Another way to look at the overall shape is as two conventional planes, with very thin fuselages, side by side and joined at their wingtips, with the cockpit and engines mounted at the point of joining.

Although White Knight was developed for certain roles in the Tier One program, it is a very capable aircraft in its own right. Scaled Composites describe it as a "high-altitude research aircraft".

===Flight profile=== SpaceShipOne takes off from the ground, attached to White Knight in a [[parasite aircraft|parasite]] configuration, and under White Knight's power. The combination of SpaceShipOne and White Knight can take off, land, and fly under jet power to high altitude. A captive carry<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Munro|first1=Cameron|last2=Krus|first2=Peter|last3=Llewellyn|first3=Edward|date=2002|title=Captive Carry Testing as a Means for Rapid Evaluation of UAV Handling Qualities|url=http://www.icas.org/ICAS_ARCHIVE/ICAS2002/PAPERS/832.PDF|journal=ICAS|publisher=International Council of Aeronautical Sciences}}</ref> flight is one where the two craft land together without launching SpaceShipOne; this is one of the main abort modes available.

For launch, the combined craft flies to an altitude of around {{convert|14|km|abbr=on}}, which takes about an hour. SpaceShipOne is then drop-released, and briefly glides unpowered. Rocket ignition may take place immediately, or may be delayed. If the rocket is never lit then SpaceShipOne can glide down to the ground. This is another major abort mode, in addition to being flown deliberately in glide tests.

The rocket engine is ignited while the spacecraft is gliding. Once under power, it is raised into a 65° climb, which is further steepened in the higher part of the trajectory. The maximum acceleration during ascent was recorded at 1.70G.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aerorocket.com/SS1/SS1.html|title=SpaceShipOne|last=Cipolla|first=John|date=4 October 2004|website=AeroDRAG & Flight Simulation 7.0 Validation|access-date=16 March 2020|archive-date=16 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216072147/http://www.aerorocket.com/SS1/SS1.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

By the end of the burn the craft is flying upwards at some multiple of the speed of sound, up to about {{convert|900|m/s|abbr=on}} and [[Mach number|Mach]] 3.5, and it continues to coast upwards unpowered (i.e. [[ballistics|ballistically]]). If the burn was long enough then it will exceed an altitude of {{convert|100|km|abbr=on}}, at which height the atmosphere presents no appreciable resistance, and the craft experiences [[weightlessness|free fall]] for a few minutes.

While at [[apogee]] the wings are reconfigured into high-drag mode. As the craft falls back it achieves high speeds comparable to those achieved on the way up; when it subsequently reenters the atmosphere it decelerates violently, up to 5.75G. At some altitude between {{convert|10|km|abbr=on}} and {{convert|20|km|abbr=on}} it reconfigures into low-drag glider mode, and glides down to a landing in about 20 minutes.

White Knight takes longer to descend, and typically lands a few minutes after SpaceShipOne.

==Specifications== [[File:SpaceShipOne.svg|right|300px]] {{Aircraft specs |ref=astronautix.com<ref name="ssone" /> |prime units?=imp  |crew=One |length m=8.5<ref>{{cite web | url=https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/spaceshipone/nasm_A20050459000 | title=SpaceShipOne | National Air and Space Museum }}</ref> |span m=8.2<ref>{{cite web | url=https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/spaceshipone/nasm_A20050459000 | title=SpaceShipOne | National Air and Space Museum }}</ref> |dia m=1.52 |wing area sqm=15 |empty weight kg=1200 |gross weight kg=3600 |more general= *'''[[Aspect ratio (wing)|Aspect Ratio]]:''' 1.6  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[[SpaceDev]] [[Nitrous oxide|N<sub>2</sub>O]]/[[Hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene|HTPB]] |eng1 type=[[hybrid rocket]] |eng1 kn=73.5 |more power= * '''[[Specific impulse|I<sub>sp</sub>]]:''' {{convert|250|isp|abbr=on}} * '''Burn time:''' 80 seconds  |perfhide= |max speed mach=3.09 (2370 mph, 3815 km/h) |range km=65 |ceiling m=112000 |climb rate ftmin=82000 |wing loading kg/m2=240 |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |disk loading kg/m2= |disk loading lb/sqft= |thrust/weight=2.08 |more performance= }}

==Development and winning the X Prize== [[File:Flight 16P taxi pre-launch photo Don Ramey Logan.jpg|thumb|Flight 16P taxi pre launch]] [[File:Launch of the Rockets on SpaceShipOne photo Don Ramey Logan.jpg|upright|thumb|Launch of the rockets on SpaceShipOne]] [[File:A sea of people watch 10 4 2004 as SpaceShipOne makes it second flight photo Don Ramey Logan.jpg|thumb|A crowd watches as SpaceShipOne makes its second flight]] [[File:SS1Group01.jpg|thumb|(L to R) Marion Blakely (FAA), Mike Melvill; Richard Branson, Burt Rutan, Brian Binnie, and Paul Allen reflect on a mission accomplished (October 4, 2004)]] [[File:SpaceShipOne Final Flight Sept 2004 photo D Ramey Logan.jpg|thumb|left|SpaceShipOne Flight Sept 2004]] [[File:SpaceShipOne Government Zero photo Don Ramey Logan.jpg|thumb|left|Mike Melvill SpaceShipOne Government Zero 15P]] SpaceShipOne was developed by Mojave Aerospace Ventures (a joint venture between [[Paul Allen]] and [[Scaled Composites]], [[Burt Rutan]]'s aviation company, in their [[Scaled Composites Tier One|Tier One]] program), without government funding. On June 21, 2004, it made the first privately funded human spaceflight. On October 4, it won the US$10 million [[Ansari X Prize]], by reaching 100 kilometers in altitude twice in a two-week period with the equivalent of three people on board and with no more than ten percent of the non-fuel weight of the spacecraft replaced between flights. Development costs were estimated to be {{USD|25 million}}, funded completely by [[Paul Allen]].<ref name=belfiore2007/>{{rp|10, 80–111}}

During its test program, SpaceShipOne set a number of important "firsts", including first privately funded aircraft to exceed Mach 2 and Mach 3, first privately funded crewed spacecraft to exceed [[Kármán line|100km altitude]], and first privately funded reusable crewed spacecraft.<ref name=belfiore2007/>{{rp|80–111}}

SpaceShipOne was [[aircraft registration|registered]] with the [[Federal Aviation Administration|FAA]] as '''{{Airreg|N|328KF|'''.'''}}''' ''N'' is the prefix for US-registered aircraft; ''328KF'' was chosen by Scaled Composites to stand for 328 [[Metrication in the United States#Hybrid units|'''k'''ilo'''f'''eet]] (about [[1 E5 m|100 kilometers]]), the officially designated [[Kármán line|edge of space]]. The original choice of registry number, {{not a typo|N100KM}}, was already taken. N328KF is registered as a [[Glider aircraft|glider]], reflecting the fact that most of its independent flight is unpowered.

SpaceShipOne's first flight, [[SpaceShipOne flight 01C|01C]], was an uncrewed captive [[flight test]] on May 20, 2003. Glide tests followed, starting with [[SpaceShipOne flight 03G|flight 03G]] on August 7, 2003. Its first powered flight, [[SpaceShipOne flight 11P|flight 11P]], was made on December 17, 2003, the 100th anniversary of the [[Wright Flyer|first powered flight]].

On April 1, 2004, Scaled Composites received the first license for [[sub-orbital spaceflight|suborbital]] rocket flights to be issued by the [[Office of Commercial Space Transportation|US Office of Commercial Space Transportation]]. This license permitted the company to conduct powered test flights over the course of one year. On June 17, 2004, under the leadership of airport CEO [[Stuart O. Witt]], Mojave Airport reclassified itself as the [[Mojave Air and Space Port]].<ref>url=https://www.space.com/2331-california-lawmakers-mojave-spaceport-growth.html</ref>

[[SpaceShipOne flight 15P|Flight 15P]] on June 21, 2004, was SpaceShipOne's first [[spaceflight]], and the first privately funded human spaceflight. There were a few control problems,<ref name="WiredSpaceShipOneBackOnCourse">{{cite news|last1=Brekke|first1=Dan|title=SpaceShipOne Back on Course|url=https://www.wired.com/science/space/news/2004/07/64123|url-status=dead|access-date=8 July 2004|publisher=[[Wired (website)|Wired]]|date=7 July 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207092930/http://www.wired.com/science/space/news/2004/07/64123|archive-date=7 December 2008}}</ref> but these were resolved prior to the Ansari X PRIZE flights that followed, with [[SpaceShipOne flight 17P|flight 17P]] to 112 km on October 4, 2004,<ref name=alt>"[http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=9881 FAI Record ID #9881 – Altitude above the earth's surface with or without maneuvers of the aerospacecraft, Class P-1 (Suborbital missions) ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018225245/http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=9881 |date=2015-10-18 }}" [http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=10434 Mass] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924043352/http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=10434 |date=2015-09-24 }} [http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=9882 Time] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924045447/http://www.fai.org/fai-record-file/?recordId=9882 |date=2015-09-24 }} ''[[Fédération Aéronautique Internationale]] (FAI).'' Retrieved: 21 September 2014.</ref> winning the prize.

The SpaceShipOne Team was awarded the Space Achievement Award<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalspacesymposium.org/symposium-awards |title=Symposium Awards |access-date=2012-01-31 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203060101/http://www.nationalspacesymposium.org/symposium-awards |archive-date=2009-02-03 }}</ref> by the [[Space Foundation]] in 2005.

===Flights===

On 17 December 2003—on the 100th anniversary of the [[Wright brothers]] first powered flight of an [[aircraft]]—''SpaceShipOne'', piloted by [[Brian Binnie]] on [[SpaceShipOne flight 11P|Flight 11P]], made its first [[Rocket engine|rocket-powered]] flight and became the first privately built craft to achieve supersonic flight.<ref name=belfiore2007>{{cite book |last1=Belfiore |first1=Michael |title=Rocketeers: how a visionary band of business leaders, engineers, and pilots is boldly privatizing space |date=2007 |publisher=Smithsonian Books |location=New York |isbn=978-0-06-114903-0 |page=[https://archive.org/details/rocketeershowvis00belf/page/ ] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/rocketeershowvis00belf/page/ }}</ref>{{rp|8}}

[[File:SpaceShipOne on touch down photo D Ramey Logan.jpg|thumb|SpaceShipOne landing]]

All of the flights of SpaceShipOne were from the [[Mojave Airport Civilian Flight Test Center]]. Flights were numbered, starting with flight 01 on May 20, 2003. One or two letters are appended to the number to indicate the type of mission. An appended '''C''' indicates that the flight was a captive carry, '''G''' indicates an unpowered glide, and '''P''' indicates a powered flight. If the actual flight differs in category from the intended flight, two letters are appended: the first indicating the intended mission and the second the mission actually performed.

{| class="wikitable" |+ '''SpaceShipOne flights''' ! align="left" | Flight ! align="left" | Date ! align="right" | Top speed ! align="right" | Altitude ! align="left" | Duration ! align="left" | Pilot |- | align="left" | 01C | align="left" | May 20, 2003 | align="right" | | align="right" | 14.63 km<ref name=ft>{{Cite web|url=http://www.scaled.com/projects/tierone/combined_white_knight_spaceshipone_flight_tests|title=SpaceShipOne Flight Tests|work=Scaled Composites|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100822194232/http://www.scaled.com/projects/tierone/combined_white_knight_spaceshipone_flight_tests|archive-date=2010-08-22}}</ref> | align="right" | 1 h 48 min | align="left" | uncrewed |- | align="left" | 02C | align="left" | July 29, 2003 | align="right" | | align="right" | 14 km<ref name="ssone" /> | align="right" | 2 h 06 min | align="left" | [[Mike Melvill]] |- | align="left" | 03G | align="left" | August 7, 2003 | align="right" | 278 km/h | align="right" | 14.33 km<ref name=ft /> | align="right" | 19 min 00 s | align="left" | [[Mike Melvill]] |- | align="left" | 04GC | align="left" | August 27, 2003 | align="right" | 370 km/h<ref name=ft /> | align="right" | 14 km<ref name="ssone" /> | align="right" | 1 h 06 min | align="left" | [[Mike Melvill]] |- | align="left" | 05G | align="left" | August 27, 2003 | align="right" | 370 km/h | align="right" | 14.69 km<ref name=ft /> | align="right" | 10 min 30 s | align="left" | [[Mike Melvill]] |- | align="left" | 06G | align="left" | September 23, 2003 | align="right" | 213 km/h | align="right" | 14.26 km<ref name=ft /> | align="right" | 12 min 15 s | align="left" | [[Mike Melvill]] |- | align="left" | 07G | align="left" | October 17, 2003 | align="right" | 241 km/h | align="right" | 14.08 km<ref name=ft /> | align="right" | 17 min 49 s | align="left" | [[Mike Melvill]] |- | align="left" | 08G | align="left" | November 14, 2003 | align="right" | 213 km/h | align="right" | 14.42 km<ref name=ft /> | align="right" | 19 min 55 s | align="left" | [[Peter Siebold]] |- | align="left" | 09G | align="left" | November 19, 2003 | align="right" | 213 km/h | align="right" | 14.72 km<ref name=ft /> | align="right" | 12 min 25 s | align="left" | [[Mike Melvill]] |- | align="left" | 10G | align="left" | December 4, 2003 | align="right" | 213 km/h | align="right" | 14.75 km<ref name=ft /> | align="right" | 13 min 14 s | align="left" | [[Brian Binnie]] |- | align="left" | [[SpaceShipOne flight 11P|11P]] | align="left" | December 17, 2003 | align="right" | [[Mach number|Mach]] 1.2 | align="right" | 20.67 km<ref name=ft /> | align="right" | 18 min 10 s | align="left" | [[Brian Binnie]] |- | align="left" | 12G | align="left" | March 11, 2004 | align="right" | 232 km/h | align="right" | 14.78 km<ref name=ft /> | align="right" | 18 min 30 s | align="left" | [[Peter Siebold]] |- | align="left" | [[SpaceShipOne flight 13P|13P]] | align="left" | April 8, 2004 | align="right" | Mach 1.6 | align="right" | 32.00 km<ref name=ft /> | align="right" | 16 min 27 s | align="left" | [[Peter Siebold]] |- | align="left" | [[SpaceShipOne flight 14P|14P]] | align="left" | May 13, 2004 | align="right" | Mach 2.5 | align="right" | 64.43 km<ref name=ft /> | align="right" | 20 min 44 s | align="left" | [[Mike Melvill]] |- | align="left" | [[SpaceShipOne flight 15P|15P]] | align="left" | June 21, 2004 | align="right" | Mach 2.9 | align="right" | 100.124 km<ref name=ft /> | align="right" | 24 min 05 s | align="left" | [[Mike Melvill]] |- | align="left" | [[SpaceShipOne flight 16P|16P]] | align="left" | September 29, 2004 | align="right" | Mach 2.92 | align="right" | 102.93 km<ref name=ft /> | align="right" | 24 min 11 s | align="left" | [[Mike Melvill]] |- | align="left" | [[SpaceShipOne flight 17P|17P]] | align="left" | October 4, 2004 | align="right" | Mach 3.09 | align="right" | 112.014 km<ref name=alt/><ref name=ft /> | align="right" | 23 min 56 s | align="left" | [[Brian Binnie]] |}

<imagemap>File:The World's First Five Spaceplanes.png|thumb|350px|SpaceShipOne ranks among the world's first [[spaceplanes]] in the [[Golden Jubilee|first 50 years]] of [[human spaceflight]], with the [[North American X-15]], [[Space Shuttle]], [[Buran (spacecraft)|Buran]], and [[Boeing X-37]]. SpaceShipOne is the second [[spaceplane]] to have [[Rocket-powered aircraft|launched]] from a [[mother ship]], preceded only by the [[North American X-15]]. default [[File:World's First Five Spaceplanes.png]] desc bottom-left rect 30 309 179 570 [[North American X-15]] rect 246 115 401 570 [[Space Shuttle]] rect 463 115 619 570 [[Buran (spacecraft)|Buran]] rect 670 115 850 570 [[:File:World's First Five Spaceplanes.png|SpaceShipOne]] rect 884 115 1042 299 [[Boeing X-37]] rect 884 300 1042 570 [[Atlas V]] # See http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:ImageMap # for details on image maps. </imagemap>

The flights were accompanied by two [[chase plane]]s—an [[Extra 300]] owned and flown by [[Chuck Coleman]], and a [[Beechcraft Starship]].<ref name="DevsiteFirstPrivateMannedSpaceFlight">{{cite web|last1=Jefferson|first1=Catherine A.|title=First Private Manned Space Flight|url=http://www.devsite.org/lab/spaceshipone/data.shtml|website=devsite.org|access-date=12 January 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008125717/http://www.devsite.org/lab/spaceshipone/data.shtml|archive-date=8 October 2007}}</ref>

===Astronauts=== The SpaceShipOne pilots came from a variety of [[aerospace]] backgrounds. [[Mike Melvill]] was a [[test pilot]], [[Brian Binnie]] was a former Navy pilot, and [[Peter Siebold]] is an engineer at Scaled Composites. They qualified to fly SpaceShipOne by training on the [[Scaled Composites Tier One#Flight simulator|Tier One flight simulator]] and in White Knight and other Scaled Composites aircraft.

==Retirement== [[File:SpaceShipOne National Air and Space Museum photo Don Ramey Logan.jpg|thumb|left|SpaceShipOne now hangs in the [[National Air and Space Museum]] in Washington, D.C.]]

SpaceShipOne's space flights were watched by large crowds at Mojave Spaceport. A fourth suborbital flight, Flight 18P, was originally scheduled for October 13, 2004. However, Burt Rutan decided not to risk damage to the historic craft, and cancelled it and all future flights.

On July 25, 2005, SpaceShipOne was taken to the [[Oshkosh Airshow]] in [[Oshkosh, Wisconsin]]. After the airshow, Mike Melvill and crew flew the [[Scaled Composites White Knight|White Knight]], carrying SpaceShipOne, to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, where Melvill spoke to a group of about 300 military and civilian personnel. Later in the evening, Melvill gave a presentation at the Dayton Engineers Club, entitled "Some Experiments in Space Flight", in honor of [[Wright brothers|Wilbur Wright]]'s now-famous presentation to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 1901 entitled "Some Experiments in Flight". The White Knight then transported SpaceShipOne to the [[Smithsonian Institution]]'s [[National Air and Space Museum]] to be put on display. It was unveiled on Wednesday October 5, 2005 in the Milestones of Flight gallery and is now on display to the public in the main atrium with the ''[[Spirit of St. Louis]]'', the [[Bell X-1]], and the [[Apollo 11]] command module ''Columbia''.

Commander [[Brian Binnie]] donated the flight suit and checklist used during his Ansari X Prize-winning flight to an auction benefitting Seattle's [[Museum of Flight]]. Entertainer and fundraising auctioneer Fred Northup Jr. purchased the flight suit and checklist book, and the flight suit is on display at the museum's Charles Simonyi Space Gallery.

A piece of SpaceShipOne's [[carbon fiber]] material was launched aboard the ''[[New Horizons]]'' mission to [[Pluto]] in 2006.<ref name="SpaceNASAProbeBoundForPlutoCarriesPieceOfPioneeringSpaceShipOne">{{cite news|last1=David|first1=Leonard|title=NASA Probe Bound for Pluto Carries Piece of Pioneering SpaceShipOne|url=http://www.space.com/28679-new-horizons-pluto-spaceshipone.html|access-date=25 August 2016|publisher=[[Space.com]]|date=27 February 2015}}</ref>

==Replicas== {{multiple image | direction = horizontal | width = 200 | align = right | footer = EAA replica in both feathered and normal configuration. | image1 = SpaceShipOneReplica.JPG | alt1 = Normal configuration of SpaceShipOne replica | caption1 = Normal configuration | image2 = SpaceShipOne Replica Feathered.jpg | alt2 = Feathered configuration of SpaceShipOne replica | caption2 = Feathered configuration }} A year after its appearance in the Oshkosh Airventure airshow, the [[Experimental Aircraft Association]] featured a full-scale replica of the spacecraft in a wing of its [[EAA AirVenture Museum|museum]] which housed other creations of Burt Rutan. Using the same fiberglass molds as the original, it was so exact in its replication—despite not having any doors or interior—that it was dubbed "Serial 2 Scaled" by [[Scaled Composites]]. Each detail in its appearance was matched, down to the N328KF registration number on its fuselage. It is so precise that, during a 7-minute video presentation held every hour on the half hour in the museum, it can display the two different modes of its 'feathering' ability, albeit through the aid of pulleys and wires (there is no machinery in the replica).<ref name="EAAAirVentureMuseumScaledCompositesSpaceShipOneReplica">{{cite web|title=EAA/Scaled Composites SpaceShipOne – Replica|url=http://www.airventuremuseum.org/collection/aircraft/SpaceShipOne.asp|publisher=[[EAA AirVenture Museum]]|access-date=21 June 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080502133833/http://www.airventuremuseum.org/collection/aircraft/SpaceShipOne.asp|archive-date=2 May 2008}}</ref>

[[File:Replica of SpaceShipOne at Hiller Aviation Museum.jpg|thumb|alt=Replica of SpaceShipOne at Hiller Aviation Museum|Replica of SpaceShipOne at Hiller Aviation Museum]]

Locations of other full-scale replicas: * William Thomas Terminal at [[Meadows Field Airport]] in [[Bakersfield]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bakersfield.com/news/airport-director-it-will-take-money-to-make-money-at/article_e891655b-3b1b-5a09-ab13-c9b832389b2c.html|title=Spaceship One Model|date=16 March 2020|website=www.bakersfield.com|access-date=16 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/meadows-field-airport-bfl-bakersfield?select=lbhgX2MaUINtIdzoVu2WwA|title=Spacship One Model|date=16 March 2020|website=Yelp.com|access-date=16 March 2020}}</ref> * Mojave Spaceport's Legacy Park alongside the original [[Rotary Rocket#The Atmospheric Test Vehicle (ATV)|Roton Atmospheric Test Vehicle]]{{citation needed|date=December 2010}} * [[Flying Heritage Collection]] at [[Paine Field]] in [[Everett, Washington|Everett]]<ref name="FlyingHeritageCollectionScaledCompositesSpaceShipOne">{{cite web|title=Scaled Composites SpaceShipOne|url=http://www.flyingheritage.com/TemplatePlane.aspx?contentId=64|publisher=[[Flying Heritage Collection]]|access-date=22 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312171234/http://www.flyingheritage.com/TemplatePlane.aspx?contentId=64|archive-date=12 March 2012}}</ref> * [[Hiller Aviation Museum]] at [[San Carlos Airport (California)]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hiller.org/space-ship-one/|title=SpaceShip One: A Uniquely Designed Craft|date=2 December 2025}}</ref> * [[Google]]'s Mountain View Campus<ref>{{cite web|last1=Beale|first1=Scott|title=Google SpaceShipOne Replica and T-Rex Skeleton|url=http://laughingsquid.com/google-spaceshipone-replica-and-t-rex-skeleton/|website=Laughing Squid|access-date=27 May 2012|date=24 April 2007}}</ref> * Frontiers of Flight Museum, Dallas Love Field, Dallas, Texas.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.american-spacecraft.org/virgin-galactic/model-texas.html|title=American Spacecraft|date=16 March 2020|website=american-spacecraft.org|access-date=15 March 2026}}</ref>

SpaceShipOne was also made into a [[model rocket]] in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://estesrockets.com/wp-content/uploads/Instructions/001891_SPACESHIP_ONE.pdf|title=Estes Rockets|date=16 March 2020|website=estesrockets.com|access-date=16 March 2020|archive-date=25 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125193955/https://estesrockets.com/wp-content/uploads/Instructions/001891_SPACESHIP_ONE.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Subsequent spacecraft== With the success of Tier One meeting its project goals, a successor project started in 2004 was [[Tier 1b]]. The successor ships are named [[SpaceShipTwo]] and [[Scaled Composites White Knight Two|White Knight Two]]. The name of the joint venture between [[Virgin Group]] and Scaled Composites is called [[The Spaceship Company]], with a goal of carrying passengers under the name [[Virgin Galactic]], a spaceliner with an initial target of a commercial fleet of five spacecraft.<ref name="SpaceVirginGalacticSpacelinerStepsForward">{{cite news|last1=David|first1=Leonard|title=Virgin Galactic Spaceliner Steps Forward|url=http://www.space.com/3507-virgin-galactic-spaceliner-steps.html|access-date=7 July 2007|publisher=[[Space.com]]|date=26 February 2007}}</ref><ref name="NewScientistSpaceTourismCompanyToFlyIn2008">{{cite news|last1=Hecht|first1=Jeff|title=Space tourism company to fly in 2008|url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn7747-space-tourism-company-to-fly-in-2008/|access-date=7 July 2007|publisher=[[New Scientist]]|date=29 July 2005}}</ref>

In August 2005, Virgin Galactic stated that if the upcoming suborbital service with SpaceShipTwo would be successful, the follow-up would be known as [[SpaceShipThree]].<ref name="FlightglobalSpaceShipThreePoisedToFollowIfSS2Succeeds">{{cite news|last1=Coppinger|first1=Rob|title=SpaceShipThree poised to follow if SS2 succeeds|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/spaceshipthree-poised-to-follow-if-ss2-succeeds-201097/|access-date=7 July 2007|publisher=[[Flightglobal]]|date=23 August 2005|location=London}}</ref><ref name="slashdot">{{Cite web |url=http://science.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=157540&threshold=1&commentsort=5&tid=160&mode=nested&cid=13205378 |title=Notes on Rutan presentations at EAA Oshkosh |access-date=7 July 2007|date=30 July 2006 |author=jnhtx (87543) |publisher=Slashdot }}</ref>

On 13 December 2018, [[VSS Unity|VSS ''Unity'']] achieved the SpaceShipTwo project's first suborbital space flight, [[VSS Unity VP-03]], with two pilots, reaching an altitude of {{convert|82.7|km|mi}}, and officially entering [[Outer space#Boundary|outer space]] by US standards.<ref>{{cite news|date=13 December 2018|title=Branson's Virgin Galactic successfully reaches space|publisher=BBC|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-46550862|access-date=13 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|date=December 4, 2018|title=Virgin Galactic tourism rocket ship reaches space in test|page=A4|work=San Jose Mercury News|publisher=Bay Area News Group|agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

==Gallery== <gallery> File:SpaceShipOne schematic.png|[[Hybrid rocket]] engine detail of SpaceShipOne ([https://web.archive.org/web/20070121144914/http://www.scaled.com/projects/tierone/data_sheets/html/ox_tank.htm more information]). File:SpaceShipOne Takes Off photo D Ramey Logan.jpg|SpaceShipOne takes off File:Kluft-photo-SS1-landing-June-2004-Img 1406c.jpg|SpaceShipOne landing after its June 21, 2004 space flight ([[SpaceShipOne flight 15P|Flight 15P]]) File:Ss1 smithsonian.jpg|SpaceShipOne in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C., with the ''[[Spirit of Saint Louis]]'' and [[Bell X-1]] ''Glamorous Glennis'' File:Spaceship One.JPG File:SpaceShipOne Takeoff photo Don Ramey Logan.jpg|SpaceShipOne taking off File:Exhausted SS1 Rocket engine in the Scale Composites building photo D Ramey Logan.jpg|Exhausted SS1 rocket engine in the Scaled Composites building File:suborbital_spaceflight_timeline.svg|Timeline of sub-orbital flights </gallery>

== See also == {{Portal|Spaceflight}} * [[2004 in spaceflight]] * ''[[Black Sky: The Race For Space]]'', 2005 documentary about SpaceShipOne * [[X-15]] * [[SpaceShipTwo]] * [[FAST20XX]] ALPHA vehicle based on SpaceShipOne

== References == {{Reflist|2}} * ''SpaceShipOne: An Illustrated History'' by [[author Dan Linehan|Dan Linehan]], foreword by [[Arthur C. Clarke]] (Zenith Press, 2008). {{ISBN|978-0-7603-3188-0}}.

==External links== {{Commons category}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20120204110642/http://www.itnsource.com/compilation/S26100601#48 Footage of SpaceShipOne landing and press conference with pilot Mike Melvill]

{{Crewed spacecraft}} {{Scaled Composites}} {{The Spaceship Company}} {{Space tourism}} {{Reusable launch systems}} {{Air-launched launchers}} {{Ansari X-Prize}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spaceship 1}} [[Category:SpaceShipOne| ]] [[Category:Crewed spacecraft]] [[Category:Individual rockets]] [[Category:Individual spaceplanes]] [[Category:Private spacecraft]] [[Category:Reusable launch systems]] [[Category:Rocket-powered aircraft]] [[Category:Rutan aircraft]] [[Category:Experimental vehicles]] [[Category:Scaled Composites Tier One]] [[Category:2000s United States experimental aircraft]] [[Category:Individual aircraft in the Smithsonian Institution]] [[Category:Individual spacecraft in the Smithsonian Institution]] [[Category:Suborbital spaceflight]] [[Category:Scaled Composites]] [[Category:Vehicles introduced in 2003]] [[Category:Aircraft first flown in 2003]] [[Category:American spaceplanes]]