—MichaelBelfiore
OnAugust7,2003,SpaceShipOnemadeitsmaidenflightwhichwasbasicallyaglidetestwhereitwasdroppedfrom47,000feet(aroundtenthousandfeethigherthancommercialpassengerairlinersfly)andflownbacktotheMojavedesertairfield.Aftersixmoreglidetests,SpaceShipOne'sfirstrocketpoweredtestflightwasonDecember17,2003—onehundredyearstothedayaftertheWrightBrothersflewthefirstpowered,heavier-than-aircraft.SpaceShipOnewaslaunchedataround50,000feetandranitsrocketenginefor15seconds.
"At67,800feet,pilotBrianBinniereachedthetopofhisclimb,arcedoverthetop,andstarteddown.Withthetailboomshingedupwardandlockedinplace,theshipwentintofeatheredmode,fallingflatonitsbelly,bleedingoffspeed,untilBinnieswungthetailsbackat33,000feet,airlinerheight,andturnedSpaceShipOneintothegliderhehadflownearlierthatmonth.Pieceofcake,Binniethought.Butnoflightisoveruntilthewheelscometoastopattheendoftherunway.Ashecameinforalanding,Binniefeltawingdroponhim.Theairplanewasn'tbehavingthewayithadinthesimulatorandonhispreviousglideflight.Hethoughtitwasabouttostall,soheputthenosedowntogetmorespeed,andthentherunwaycameup,fartoofast.Hepulledbackthesticktobringthenoseupforhislandingflare,butitwastoolate,andwithnoengine,therewasnochanceforago-around.Bam.Hehithard.Theleftlandingstrutsnapped,andtheshipslewedsideways,slidofftherunway,andcametorestinarollingcloudofreddesertsand."
—MichaelBelfiore
NorealdamagewasdoneinthelandingmishapanditwaslaterfoundthatsomemodificationsneededtobemadetoSpaceShipOne'swingstoavoidtheproblemarisingagain.Afterseveralmoretestflights,SpaceShipOnewastakentoaheightof328,491feetonJune21,2004.Thiswasthefirsttimeinhistorythataspaceshipmanufacturedandfinancedbyanon-governmententityhadevermadeitintospace.Infact,withtheU.S.ShuttlefleetgroundedformorethanayearbecauseoftheColumbiaaccident,SpaceShipOneactuallyendedupbeingtheonlymannedAmericancrafttoleavetheatmospherein2004.Atthesametime,pilotMikeMelvillbecameAmerica'snewestastronautandthefirstinhistorytoreachspacewithoutgovernmenthelpofanykind.