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SpaceShipOne Flight Test

Posted by michael on from the keep-parachute-handy dept.

Soft writes "Scaled Composites' entry for the X-Prize, the SpaceShipOne, has had a successful first (unpowered) flight test. The spacecraft was dropped from the White Knight carrier aircraft at 47,000 ft (14 km) and 105 kt (194 km/h, 120 mph) and touched down after a 1.1-hour glide at Mojave airport. Photos are available."

9 of 175 comments (clear)

  1. Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    We know it sinks. But, will it fly?

  2. SpaceShipOne? by AntiOrganic · · Score: 3, Funny

    SpaceShipOne comes with a 14-day trial from SpaceShipOne Networks. To obtain the free SpaceShipOne, please look harder.

  3. Re:From X to One by ArsSineArtificio · · Score: 3, Funny

    Thank God they didn't name it SpaceShipZero. The distance to ZeroWing would be just to small.

    That, and we don't mind if they take off every SpaceShipZero for great justice, it's just that we don't want the pilot to have no chance to survive make his time.

    --
    All employees must wash hands before seeking equitable relief.
  4. Precision by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    The space ship was launched at 47,000 feet and 105 knots, 10 nm east of Mojave.

    How the hell did they measure that? I mean, it has an altitude of 47000 feet and a velocity 105 knots and they tell you it is 10 nanometers east of Mojave!

    1. Re:Precision by WolfWithoutAClause · · Score: 2, Funny

      Mixing your metric with your imperial? You should work for NASA ;-)

      --

      -WolfWithoutAClause

      "Gravity is only a theory, not a fact!"
    2. Re:Precision by Libor+Vanek · · Score: 1, Funny

      Hey man - when will you damned americans start to use metric system? How many Mars probes must fail? .-)

    3. Re:Precision by homebru · · Score: 2, Funny
      when will you damned-good americans start to use metric system?

      When the Greeks reckon time by the kalends?

      I took the liberty of re-inserting the portion of the hyphenated phrase which your non-American-made keyboard left out. You're welcome.

  5. LOOK BITCH by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    STFU, take off your clothes, and make me a sandwich.

  6. Re:Now things are heating up... by TotallyUseless · · Score: 4, Funny
    What the hell is the X-Price?!?!? I thought most software for X was free? This is not +1 interesting... hell, the link doesn't even work!

    X-Prize

    There ya go, a working link to the X-Prize site.

    I'm sure I will now be modded into oblivion. Enjoy!

    --

    Time for some tasty Shiner Bock!