SpaceShipOne Wins $10 Million Ansari X Prize in Historic 2nd Trip to Space

[derby378]

MOJAVE, CALIFORNIA – Human flight took a significant step forward today as the privately built SpaceShipOne flew into suborbital space for the second time in five days, apparently securing the $10 million Ansari X Prize.

With pilot Brian Binnie at the controls, SpaceShipOne rocketed to an unofficial height of 368,000 feet after being dropped from its White Knight mothership at a little above 46,000 feet.

The altitude was confirmed by radar while SpaceShipOne was gliding back to Earth. The craft touched down at 11:14 a.m. ET.

"This is a milestone for humanity," said John Spencer, president of the Space Tourism Society in Los Angeles.

http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/xprize2_success_041004.html

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