Pictures of the SpaceShipOne launch, June 21, 2004

The Return of SpaceShipOne

16 minutes after launch, the crowd first sighted SpaceShipOne on its return to the Mojave Spaceport. (Yes, this is the point where we begin calling it a spaceport.) The Starship chase plane was already following it and had given a visual safety inspection for the pilot. And the other chase planes joined it for the triumphant return.

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(3072x2048 1872K) (500x333 29K) 7 minutes after SpaceShipOne's launch... Some people yell that they have spotted a plane. Everyone in the crowd strains to identify it, holding up their hands to sheild their eyes from the sun. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

(3072x2048 543K) (500x333 3K) 7 minutes after SpaceShipOne's launch... The aircraft some have spotted is White Knight returning to the sky over the Mojave Spaceport to await SpaceShipOne's arrival. It will now serve as an additional chase plane. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

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(3072x2048 440K) (500x333 3K) 16 minutes after SpaceShipOne's launch... With this view through a zoom lens, Ian identified the Starship chase plane returning to Mojave Spaceport. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

(3072x2048 456K) (500x333 3K) 16 minutes after SpaceShipOne's launch... With this view through a zoom lens, Ian yelled to others around because he was the first within earshot to identify SpaceShipOne on its return to the Mojave Spaceport. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

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(3072x2048 467K) (500x333 3K) Having safely reached the airspace above the Mojave Spaceport, Mike Melvill circles SpaceShipOne around on the glide to the runway. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

(3072x2048 504K) (500x333 3K) The Starship and Extra chase planes follow SpaceShipOne as it glides above the Mojave Airport enroute to its landing. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

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(3072x2048 518K) (500x333 3K) SpaceShipOne (top) and the Extra chase plane. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

(3072x2048 513K) (500x333 3K) The Starship chase plane (left), SpaceShipOne (right top) and the Extra chase plane. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

(3072x2048 528K) (500x333 3K) The Starship chase plane (left), SpaceShipOne (right top) and the Extra chase plane. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

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(3072x2048 527K) (500x333 3K) The Starship chase plane (left), SpaceShipOne (right top) and the Extra chase plane. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

(3072x2048 518K) (500x333 3K) The Extra chase plane follows SpaceShipOne on the base leg of its traffic pattern before landing. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

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(3072x2048 487K) (500x333 3K) The Extra chase plane follows SpaceShipOne on the downwind leg of its traffic pattern before landing. The two aircraft have safe separation distance as in previous pictures, though the Extra is getting in front of SpaceShipOne from this point of view. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

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(1600x1200 380K) (500x375 4K) SpaceShipOne and the Extra chase plane as seen from the XCOR Aerospace guest viewing area. (photo by Dave Masten KG6FNL)

(1600x1200 438K) (500x375 4K) SpaceShipOne and the Extra chase plane as seen from the XCOR Aerospace guest viewing area. (photo by Dave Masten KG6FNL)

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(1600x1200 439K) (500x375 4K) SpaceShipOne and the Extra chase plane as seen from the XCOR Aerospace guest viewing area. (photo by Dave Masten KG6FNL)

(3072x2048 516K) (500x333 4K) The Extra chase plane turns on its air show smoke signaling the return of SpaceShipOne to the Mojave Spaceport. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

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(3072x2048 436K) (500x333 3K) SpaceShipOne turns to the base leg of the traffic pattern before landing. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

(3072x2048 437K) (500x333 3K) SpaceShipOne turns to the base leg of the traffic pattern before landing. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

(3072x2048 420K) (500x333 3K) SpaceShipOne turns to the base leg of the traffic pattern before landing. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)

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(3072x2048 433K) (500x333 3K) SpaceShipOne continues the turn for base leg to the final approach to Runway 30 at the Mojave Spaceport. (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)

(3072x2048 1872K) (500x333 29K)	7 minutes after SpaceShipOne's launch... Some people yell that they have spotted a plane. Everyone in the crowd strains to identify it, holding up their hands to sheild their eyes from the sun. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 543K) (500x333 3K)	7 minutes after SpaceShipOne's launch... The aircraft some have spotted is White Knight returning to the sky over the Mojave Spaceport to await SpaceShipOne's arrival. It will now serve as an additional chase plane. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 440K) (500x333 3K)	16 minutes after SpaceShipOne's launch... With this view through a zoom lens, Ian identified the Starship chase plane returning to Mojave Spaceport. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 456K) (500x333 3K)	16 minutes after SpaceShipOne's launch... With this view through a zoom lens, Ian yelled to others around because he was the first within earshot to identify SpaceShipOne on its return to the Mojave Spaceport. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 467K) (500x333 3K)	Having safely reached the airspace above the Mojave Spaceport, Mike Melvill circles SpaceShipOne around on the glide to the runway. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 504K) (500x333 3K)	The Starship and Extra chase planes follow SpaceShipOne as it glides above the Mojave Airport enroute to its landing. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 518K) (500x333 3K)	SpaceShipOne (top) and the Extra chase plane. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 513K) (500x333 3K)	The Starship chase plane (left), SpaceShipOne (right top) and the Extra chase plane. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 528K) (500x333 3K)	The Starship chase plane (left), SpaceShipOne (right top) and the Extra chase plane. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 527K) (500x333 3K)	The Starship chase plane (left), SpaceShipOne (right top) and the Extra chase plane. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 518K) (500x333 3K)	The Extra chase plane follows SpaceShipOne on the base leg of its traffic pattern before landing. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 487K) (500x333 3K)	The Extra chase plane follows SpaceShipOne on the downwind leg of its traffic pattern before landing. The two aircraft have safe separation distance as in previous pictures, though the Extra is getting in front of SpaceShipOne from this point of view. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(1600x1200 380K) (500x375 4K)	SpaceShipOne and the Extra chase plane as seen from the XCOR Aerospace guest viewing area. (photo by Dave Masten KG6FNL)
(1600x1200 438K) (500x375 4K)	SpaceShipOne and the Extra chase plane as seen from the XCOR Aerospace guest viewing area. (photo by Dave Masten KG6FNL)
(1600x1200 439K) (500x375 4K)	SpaceShipOne and the Extra chase plane as seen from the XCOR Aerospace guest viewing area. (photo by Dave Masten KG6FNL)
(3072x2048 516K) (500x333 4K)	The Extra chase plane turns on its air show smoke signaling the return of SpaceShipOne to the Mojave Spaceport. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 436K) (500x333 3K)	SpaceShipOne turns to the base leg of the traffic pattern before landing. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 437K) (500x333 3K)	SpaceShipOne turns to the base leg of the traffic pattern before landing. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 420K) (500x333 3K)	SpaceShipOne turns to the base leg of the traffic pattern before landing. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)
(3072x2048 433K) (500x333 3K)	SpaceShipOne continues the turn for base leg to the final approach to Runway 30 at the Mojave Spaceport. (photo by Ian Kluft KO6YQ)