MOJAVE, CALIFORNIA All is in readiness here for the first non-governmental flight to leave the Earth's atmosphere.
If weather and technology cooperate, the White Knight carrier craft is to tote the privately-built SpaceShipOne high above desert and mountain surroundings Monday morning, then cut free the craft for a rocket-powered assault on the sky.
Thousands of spectators and hundreds of journalists are flooding into this small desert community, prepared to witness firsthand the record-setting event.
Making it affordable to fly
"Showtime," explained Burt Rutan, chief of Scaled Composites, and aviation legend at a press briefing today.
Asked about the meaning behind the SpaceShipOne project, Rutan is quick to answer.
"The significance is the realization that, hey, this is for us to do now. This is not only for government to do. So I believe our real significance of this program is that realizationand I believe that realization will attract investment. And that realization will attract a whole bunch of activity. And very soon, itll be affordable for you to fly," Rutan told reporters.
Mike Melvill at the controls
Rutan announced at the press briefing that 62-year-old Mike Melvill has been selected to make Mondays record-setting run to the edge of space. Melvill is a test pilot and vice president/general manager at Scaled Composites, LLC.
Melvill was at the controls of SpaceShipOnes last flight in May. He has a number of aviation records to his name.
"I am very, very flattered to have been chosen for this, Melvill explained, picked from a small cadre of Scaled Composite astronaut candidates. "I just got the luck of the short straw, or the long strawwhatever it is."
"Im delighted to do it. I enjoyed the last flight. Im hoping this will be an exact repetition, just a little higher, a little faster. Im looking forward to it very, very much. And Im ready to goI am ready to go! And we are going to win the X Prize. Put your money on it," Melvill said.
New page in aviation history books
Paul Allen, financial backer of the project was also at the media-packed briefing held at the Mojave Airport, takeoff site for the White Knight/SpaceShipOne vehicles. He saluted the creativity and dedication of the Scaled Composites team.
"Tomorrow we will attempt to add a new page to the aviation history books. If our attempt is successful, SpaceShipOne will be the first privately-funded spaceship to reach suborbital space. SpaceShipOnes pilot will become the first civilian pilot to ever cross the boundary of space in a completely privately funded vehicle," Allen said.
Allen said that he has spent "in excess of $20 million on the project.
"I guess there is a theme with a number of my projects. I try to do things that should be done," Allen told SPACE.com. "Im looking to do things that are crying out to be done, but havent been done," he said.
Fun while doing research
Paul Allens money has given Rutan free reign to design and build the Scaled Composites suborbital dream machine.
"This has allowed us to develop a complete manned space program from scratch for the price of one of those government paper studies," Rutan noted. "Im so proud of that it brings tears to my eyes, it really does," he added choking back his emotions.
"Its a unique opportunity to have fun. Having fun while doing pure research is heaven for me," Rutan said.
There were a number of hints from Rutan regarding still-secretive plans for moving beyond suborbital rocketry. Asked if SpaceShipOne is scalable, Rutan tossed out one word: "Yes."
Rutan said that flying SpaceShipOne on its suborbital flight is, indeed, barnstormingjust like the early airplanes.
"However, were heading to orbit sooner than you think. And we know its crucial to dramatically reduce the cost. We do not plan to stay in low Earth orbit for decades, but to enable high adventure and exploration as soon as the new technologies allow."
"So hold on. The next 25 years will be a wild ride, thats my prediction," Rutan said.
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