X-Prize Launches 1 and 2 - Scaled Composites
Mojave Spaceport, CA
[ 09/29/2004 and 10/04/2004 ]The pictures on this page are of both of Scaled Composites' launches for the X-Prize competition.
Some pictures are frames from video, so the quality isn't spectacular.
Audio Clips
Listen to the sonic boom caused by SpaceShipOne's re-entry on its second X-Prize flight.Sonicboom.mp3
X-Prize Launch 1 - 09/29/2004
 The VIP area around 3am |
 A sea of news vans |
 Venus shines brightly as dawn breaks |
 The near full moon lit up the desert all night. |
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 The Extra 300 taxis out |
 White Knight and SpaceShipOne pass by the VIP area |
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 WK, SS1, and the convoy head to the end of the runway |
 Beechcraft Starship |
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 WK and SS1 take off on the first X-Prize flight |
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 Circling, climbing... |
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 The relatively small crowd compared to the June and x2 flights |
 The alpha jet takes to the air |
 The VIP area enjoys many benefits... |
 Another of Rutan's designs on display |
 The crowd awaits SS1's return. |
 SS1 has been spotted |
 SS1 returns, flanked by chase air craft |
 SS1 turns to final approach....and I run out of video tape. |
 SS1 is towed past with Mike Melville on top |
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 Victory, part 1! |
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 Burt Rutan (and Paul Allen? Richard Branson?) |
 In a scene reminiscient of "The Right Stuff," Rutan yells back to the crowd "It was nothing! We'll go again." |
 Astronaut Melville takes time to snap a picture of the crowd |
 SS1's business end, now sporting a Virgin Galactic logo |
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X-Prize Launch 2 - 10/04/2004
 Mojave Spaceport is ablaze with lights as we're parked outside the airport gates |
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 An especially early departure for WK and SS1 |
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 The early morning sun paints the WK and SS1 a brilliant orange |
 Monday morning's crowd waits patiently for the duo to climb to altitude |
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 Alicia! |
 The sun creeps above the horizon |
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 The crowd appears to have spotted something of interest in the sky |
 WK makes a hard right turn as Brian Binnie lights SS1's engine |
 3 contrails diverge over the Mojave Desert |
 Straight as an arrow, SS1 actually shows up on video |
 After burnout, SS1's trail disperses |
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 SS1 and its Extra 300 chase plane |
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 An F-4 Phantom makes an unexpected departure in full afterburner, turning sharply as it passes the crowd |
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 New astronaut Brian Binnie on his victory lap around the airport |
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 Alicia seems to be enjoying herself |