| Operator | Scaled Composites |
|---|---|
| Maximum altitude | 67,800 ft (20,700 m) |
| Aircraft properties | |
| Aircraft | SpaceShipOne |
| Aircraft type | Rocket-powered aircraft |
| Crew | 1 |
| Flight timeline | |
| Takeoff date | December 17, 2003 |
| Takeoff site | Mojave Airport |
| Landing date | December 17, 2003 |
| Landing site | Mojave Airport |
Flight 11P ofSpaceShipOne was its eighth independent flight, its first powered flight, and the first privately funded crewed flight to reachsupersonic speeds.[1] It occurred on December 17, 2003.[2]
The date of the test flight was 100 years to the day (and almost to the hour) since theWright Brothers made the first powered flight. It followed several months of glide tests. Thepilot wasBrian Binnie.[2]
White Knight,piloted byPeter Siebold, carried SpaceShipOne to launch altitude. At 08:15PDT at an altitude of 47,900 feet (14.6 km) and a speed of 112knots (58m/s), SpaceShipOne was released from White Knight. After gliding to 44,400 feet (13.5 km) and accelerating toMach 0.55, the rocket was lit for a 15second burn.
Nine seconds into the burn, SpaceShipOne exceeded the speed of sound. The craft climbed at a 70-degree angle, accelerating at 3g (30 m/s²). At burn-out the Mach number was 1.2. The craft coasted to anapogee altitude of 67,800 feet (20.7 km).
The craft was reconfigured into high-drag ("feathered") mode to begin descent. After about a minute of descent, it switched to glider configuration at 35,000 feet (10.7 km). It then glided for 12 minutes back toMojave Airport.
During landing aroll oscillation caused the left main gear to collapse. The craft made arunway excursion rolling to a stop in soft sand. The craft sustained minor damage, later repaired, and the pilot was uninjured.[1][citation needed]