Privately built craft soars into space history
History was made on 21 June when the first privately built manned spacecraft left the Earth's atmosphere. SpaceShipOne, built by US aviation pioneer Burt Rutan, went over the 100 km space boundary, and is now on target to win the ten million USD (8.3 million euro) Ansari X-Prize. The craft was carried to 13.8 km by its launcher White Knight. Once unleashed, pilot Mike Melville ignited the spacecraft's engines, and it soared into space at three times the speed of sound. The flight did experience minor technical problems, causing the craft to veer more than 20 miles off course in a few seconds during its ascent. But the SpaceShipOne back-up system worked, and a smooth landing was witnessed by hundreds of spectators 90 minutes after take-off. The team is expected to reach a decision with regard to the Ansari X-Prize. To beat the other 25 teams in the race, SpaceShipOne would have to reach 100km twice in two weeks. On each occasion it would have to fly with a pilot and at least the ballast equivalent of two other people.
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