NowthatitwasclearSpaceShipOnecouldperformthetask,theScaledCompositeteamgottoworkpreparingforthetwoofficialX-Prizeflights.TheytrimmedweightoffthespaceshipsoitcouldcarryballastrepresentingtheweightoftwopassengersbesidesthepilotasrequiredbytheXPrizerules.ThreepilotswereintrainingfortheflightandMikeMelvillwaschosenfortheflight.ThefirstX-PrizeflightwasonSeptember29,2004anditwasdistinguishedbythefactattheendofthescheduledrocketblast,SpaceShipOnesuddenlystartedtwirlingaboutitsaxislikesomekindofsuperchargedwhirligig.Melvillwasfinallyabletostoptherollusinganonboardsystemwhichusedcompressedairthrusters.DespitethefactthatSpaceShipOnehadlefttheatmosphereinaspin,thecraftreachedtherequiredaltitudeandreturnedsafely.Oneflightdown,andnowallthatwasrequiredforSpaceShipOnetoclaimtheX-Prizewasforthesecondflighttobecompletedwithintwoweeks.
"ThefinalXPrizeflight,X2,carriedthehigheststakesofanySpaceShipOneflight.Farmorerodeonitthanthe$10millionprize.Rutanwantedtostartthefirstcommercialspaceline,andthemeanswithwhichtodoitlayalmostwithinhisgrasp.RichardBransonwaitedwithpenpoisedovercheckbooktogivehimthecapitaltobuildafleetofpassengerspaceshipsforhisnewlyformedVirginGalactic.Butwealthyspacetouristsweren'tgoingtoforkover$190,000torideatwitchyexperimentalspaceshipwithanunfortunatepropensityforflyingoffcourse,spinningwhiletravelingfasterthanariflebullet,orcrackinguponlanding.TosealthedealonanewspaceageandwindevelopmentmoneyfromBransonontopofthe$10millionXPRIZE,SpaceShipOnehadtodemonstratesomethingithadneverdonebefore;thatitwascapableofaperfectspaceflight,onethatwouldgivepassengersthethrillofalifetimewithoutscaringthehelloutofthem."
—MichaelBelfiore
WhiletheScaledCompositestechnicalpeoplegotbusyinstallinganewrocketengineinSpaceShipOne,designatedpilotBrianBinniepracticedoverandoversomenewflightprocedureswhichwouldcompensateforSpaceShipOne'svariousidiosyncrasiesandimperfections.Finally,onOctober4,2004,thego-aheadwasgivenfortheallcriticalsecondX-Prizeflight.Thenewproceduresworkedperfectly,andSpaceShipOnemadeitto367,500feet(about69.9milesstraightup)beforeheadingsafelybacktoEarth.Inthecontrolroom,RichardBransonshookPaulAllen'shand,symbolicallymarkingthehandofffromAllen'sspaceshipdevelopmentprogramtoBranson'scommercialspacelineventure.BurtRutan,meanwhile,lookedlikeakidonhisbirthday.HewasstillsmilingfromeartoearwhenthepresidentoftheUnitedStatescalledlaterthatdaytocongratulatehimonwhathadbeenachieved.