Pictures of the SpaceShipOne launch, June 21, 2004

Launch of SpaceShipOne

After the climb, SpaceShipOne was released from the White Knight carrier aircraft. Pilot Mike Melvill then ignited the rocket motor and flew SpaceShipOne straight up...

(3072x2048 422K) (500x333 3K)	At this point, the drop-launch of SpaceShipOne was reported on the radio. The spec in the sky is barely visible. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 447K) (500x333 4K)	Mike Melvill ignites the rocket motor on SpaceShipOne and flies straight up. This is about four seconds after ignition. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 444K) (500x333 4K)	Mike Melvill ignites the rocket motor on SpaceShipOne and flies straight up. Note that there is no autopilot on SpaceShipOne so he's flying this manually. Though he's flying it pretty straight, wind shear always quickly starts to distort a rocket trail. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 445K) (500x333 4K)	A slightly larger control movement of SpaceShipOne's ascent was noticeable in this picture as it climbs straight into the sun from our point of view. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 443K) (500x333 4K)	Mike Melvill corrects back to his course as SpaceShipOne continues its rocket boost. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 448K) (500x333 5K)	SpaceShipOne briefly disappears into the Sun from our point of view. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 451K) (500x333 5K)	SpaceShipOne briefly disappears into the Sun from our point of view. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 469K) (500x333 5K)	SpaceShipOne emerges from the Sun in our point of view. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 465K) (500x333 5K)	SpaceShipOne emerges from the Sun in our point of view. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 466K) (500x333 5K)	SpaceShipOne emerges from the Sun in our point of view. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 452K) (500x333 5K)	SpaceShipOne emerges from the Sun in our point of view. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 459K) (500x333 4K)	SpaceShipOne continues its rocket boost, 42 seconds into the burn. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 461K) (500x333 4K)	SpaceShipOne continues its rocket boost, 46 seconds into the burn. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 452K) (500x333 4K)	SpaceShipOne continues its rocket boost, 52 seconds into the burn. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 467K) (500x333 3K)	SpaceShipOne continues its rocket boost, 58 seconds into the burn. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 478K) (500x333 3K)	SpaceShipOne continues its rocket boost, 64 seconds into the burn. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 488K) (500x333 3K)	SpaceShipOne continues its rocket boost, 66 seconds into the burn. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 493K) (500x333 3K)	SpaceShipOne continues its rocket boost, 70 seconds into the burn. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 492K) (500x333 3K)	At the time of this picture, about 76 seconds after the burn began, SpaceShipOne's rocket boost trail seems to have ended. The craft now continues on its own momentum but we can't see it. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(2048x3072 1309K) (500x750 9K)	Wind quickly shears and distorts the trail left by SpaceShipOne. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

Back up to Stratofox's pictures of SpaceShipOne's first space flight (June 2004)
Back up to Stratofox's pictures of SpaceShipOne's XPrize space flights (Sept and Oct 2004)

Web text copyright 2004 by Stratofox, a Special Interest Group of the South Bay Community Network, Silicon Valley, California
All pictures copyright 2004 by their photographers.