SpaceShipOne flight 16P
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| Mission type | Ansari X-Prize entry |
|---|---|
| Operator | Scaled Composites |
| Mission duration | 25 minutes |
| Apogee | 102.9 kilometers (63.9 mi) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | SpaceShipOne |
| Manufacturer | Scaled Composites |
| Crew | |
| Crew size | 1 |
| Members | Mike Melvill |
| Callsign | SpaceShipOne |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | September 29, 2004, 15:09 UTC |
| Launch site | White Knight, Mojave |
| End of mission | |
| Landing date | September 29, 2004, 15:34 UTC |
| Landing site | Mojave |
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Flight 16P of SpaceShipOne was a spaceflight in the Tier One program that took place on September 29, 2004. It was the first competitive flight in the Ansari X PRIZE competition to demonstrate a non-governmental reusable manned spacecraft, and is hence also referred to as the X1 flight. A serious roll excursion occurred during boost, so the flight did not achieve the expected altitude. However, it exceeded 100 km altitude, making it a successful X PRIZE flight.
X PRIZE rules required that the date and place of competitive flights be announced to the X PRIZE Foundation at least 60 days before the flight. Due to problems encountered during flight 15P on June 21, 2004, Scaled Composites did not immediately set a date for their competitive flights, suspecting that another test flight might be required. By July 7, 2004 Burt Rutan reported that the faults had been resolved and the next flights would be competitive. On July 27, 2004, the X PRIZE Foundation announced that Scaled Composites had given notice that they would make their first competitive flight on September 29, 2004.
The pilot initially selected for the flight withdrew due to stress about two weeks before the flight, after his wife gave birth and he also fell ill. Mike Melvill, who also piloted SpaceShipOne's sole previous spaceflight, stepped in to fly in his place. The choice of pilot was not publicly announced until about two hours before planned takeoff. Melvill was seen as a surprise choice, because after the previous flight he had said he wanted to take a break from flying SpaceShipOne and ride his motorbike more.
Under Ansari X PRIZE rules, the flight was required to carry 180 kg payload, to simulate two 90 kg human passengers. Scaled Composites announced early on that this, their first X PRIZE flight, would carry inanimate payload rather than live passengers. The payload included:
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