Flight of SpaceShipOne

Text by Joseph Heckenbach, LUNAR #509
Photos by Judy Heckenbach, LUNAR #510

It was a dark and stormy night. Actually it wasn't stormy just extremely windy. The wind was clocked at seventy knots at 3AM according to the tower at Mojave Spaceport in the small Southern California town of Mojave. Neither Judy nor I got very much sleep the morning of June 21, 2004; partly because the wind wasn't just rattling the windows and doors but shaking the whole building. Partly because we had to get up at 2AM to get to the Spaceport ahead of the crowds. And partly because it was difficult to sleep knowing we were about to witness history in the making.

On the morning of June 21, 2004, high in the sky to the East of Mojave California, the first privately funded manned Spaceflight took place before a multitude of Space fans. In what was formerly the sole domain of wealthy countries that could afford to put a human in space, a small group of dedicated people led by Burt Rutan and Paul Allen have succeeded, for less than the cost of one NASA feasibility study, in putting test pilot Mike Melvill to the edge of space.

Judy and my part in this adventure started with the long boring drive to Mojave. We arrived at about four in the afternoon on the day before the launch to winds that would have grounded commercial aircraft. The wind only got worse that evening. I kept telling Judy the flight would probably be canceled but neither of us gave up hope. By 9:00 PM we had everything prepped and ready and went to bed, but with the wind shaking the building like a magnitude 7.0 earthquake we didn't get much sleep.

Two AM rolls around and it's time to get up. The wind is so fierce it sounds like an angry mob is trying to break into the motel room. Still, we get ready. Out the door about 4:00, and down to the flight line. Traffic control is extremely well done and we breeze right in. Of course we have to stop by the souvenir tent where I shell out the last $40 of my gas money for a T-shirt and hat. On to the edge of the runway, where the White Knight and SpaceShipOne will taxi past, to take our place among the Faithful. Sunup is still more than an hour away and the wind hasn't abated much if any. The crowd around us is mostly quiet and patient.

Dawn is starting to color the Eastern sky brilliant shades of red and orange. The PA system set up along the flight line just for this event keeps us informed of the flights progress. All is going well. We're told the wind will be within limits by flight time.

The Sun rises quietly over the hills beyond Edwards AFB. Soon after, two chase planes take off; the Extra 300 low altitude chase and the Beech Starship high altitude chase. The high chase AlphaJet won't head up until shortly before drop. Meanwhile, the wind has been getting steadily calmer as Dawn came and went.

At about 6:20, we're told the White Knight has been lit. The crowd around us starts jockeying for position to photograph the takeoff. Around 6:40 or so, the White Knight and SpaceShipOne appear from behind a hanger and roll slowly toward us. I think about the number of still and video cameras aimed toward them and wonder how many other events can compare. They proceed past us down the taxiway and take off toward the hills to the northwest. They use so much of the runway I start to wonder if they'll make it, but finally they're up and start making large circuits around the Spaceport to gain altitude. The Extra and Starship join them shortly after takeoff and escort them for the ascent to the drop point. The Extra only stays for about twenty minutes. The Starship follows until they reach about 45,000 feet where the AlphaJet intercepts them and they all head for the Edwards AFB restricted airspace to the drop point.

White Knight and SpaceShipOne on taxiway.

The White Knight and SpaceShipOne are so high and far away, all we can see is the contrail and that only with difficulty because we're looking almost directly into the Sun. The PA announces the drop will take place momentarily. The call comes. The drop has been made. We all strain our eyes for some sign. Then just below the Sun, the smoke trail from the rocket motor can be seen streaking almost straight up. The trail wiggles and wobbles at first and I wonder why. Later we would learn about the control problem Mike was having. The sight was glorious. A thin white spike climbing right out of the top of the Sun and reaching higher and higher.

White Knight, SpaceShipOne and Starship chase plane gaining altitude.

Then the spike stopped. We knew Mike should be traveling almost straight up at just under Mach 3. The PA told us there was a problem during the burn but that Mike was coasting to apogee though about 20 miles off course. For the next few minutes, all we could do was wait.

White Knight high altitude contrail.

The call finally came that SpaceShipOne was in feather mode and pulling about 5G's. We searched the sky but could see nothing. Several minutes later people started pointing. We looked and could barely make out the contrail of the AlphaJet and Starship that had met up with SpaceShipOne and followed the contrails until they disappeared. Long minutes passed. Then...a faint "ba-boom." We had heard the double sonic boom from reentry. Judy and I looked at each other and grinned from ear to ear as the crowd started cheering wildly. Bet you didn't hear that on CNN!

SpaceShipOne and Extra 300 chase plane turning to final.

More long minutes passed before we could see the Starship and AlphaJet next to SpaceShipOne. They all came down slowly, or so it seemed, heading for the Southeast end of the runway. Soon the Extra joined them and at about 8,500 feet SpaceShipOne rolled into final. By this time everyone had jammed the side of the runway. I suddenly realize the wind has dropped to a gentle breeze.

We followed SpaceShipOne in to a very smooth landing as it glided by right in front of us and stopped in front of the grandstand. Later, SpaceShipOne with newly minted Astronaut Mike Melvill on top would be towed in front of the adoring crowd. Another American Hero made and we had watched it happen! While SpaceShipOne was being towed back to the hanger, Mike held up a sign that said: "SpaceShipOne, Government Zero." It was great. Ya shouda been there!

Astronaut Mike Melvill and SpaceShipOne after flight. Sign says, "SpaceShipOne, Government Zero"

Some narrow minded people think the SpaceShipOne launch was merely a stunt and that Burt and his crew are just a bunch of cowboys. Did the Wright brothers merely pull off a stunt in 1903? Were Wilbur and Orville just a couple of cowboys? Recall the immortal opening line spoken by actor William Shatner from a certain 60's TV series: "Space...The final frontier." Well maybe we need some cowboys with vision to tame that frontier so the rest of us can follow.

Judy! Saddle up. I feel another launch coming on!

Return to Index

All content is the responsibility of LUNAR. If you have comments or suggestions regarding these web pages, please contact the