SpaceShipOne flight 14P
Encyclopedia
Flight 14P of SpaceShipOne was its third powered flight, which occurred on May 13, 2004. The pilot was Mike Melvill
.
SpaceShipOne was released from White Knight at an altitude of 46,000 feet (14.0 km) and a speed of 120 knots (62 m/s). After ten seconds the rocket
was lit, for a 55 second
burn.
At burn-out the altitude was 150,000 feet (45.7 km) and the Mach number
was 2.5. The craft then coasted to an apogee altitude of 211,400 feet (64.3 km).
At one point during the flight, the avionics
computer froze up and had to be rebooted. Melvill flew the aircraft manually until the computer became operable again.
During reentry, the craft attained Mach 1.9 and deceleration of 3.5 g
(34 m/s²). The craft switched to glider configuration at 55,000 feet (17.4 km). The craft returned to the spaceport
and landed safely.
Mike Melvill
Michael Winston "Mike" Melvill is one of the test pilots for SpaceShipOne, the experimental spaceplane developed by Scaled Composites. Melvill piloted SpaceShipOne on its first flight past the edge of space, flight 15P on June 21, 2004, thus becoming the first commercial astronaut and the 434th...
.
SpaceShipOne was released from White Knight at an altitude of 46,000 feet (14.0 km) and a speed of 120 knots (62 m/s). After ten seconds the rocket
Rocket
A rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust from a rocket engine. In all rockets, the exhaust is formed entirely from propellants carried within the rocket before use. Rocket engines work by action and reaction...
was lit, for a 55 second
Second
The second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock....
burn.
At burn-out the altitude was 150,000 feet (45.7 km) and the Mach number
Mach number
Mach number is the speed of an object moving through air, or any other fluid substance, divided by the speed of sound as it is in that substance for its particular physical conditions, including those of temperature and pressure...
was 2.5. The craft then coasted to an apogee altitude of 211,400 feet (64.3 km).
At one point during the flight, the avionics
Avionics
Avionics are electronic systems used on aircraft, artificial satellites and spacecraft.Avionic systems include communications, navigation, the display and management of multiple systems and the hundreds of systems that are fitted to aircraft to meet individual roles...
computer froze up and had to be rebooted. Melvill flew the aircraft manually until the computer became operable again.
During reentry, the craft attained Mach 1.9 and deceleration of 3.5 g
G-force
The g-force associated with an object is its acceleration relative to free-fall. This acceleration experienced by an object is due to the vector sum of non-gravitational forces acting on an object free to move. The accelerations that are not produced by gravity are termed proper accelerations, and...
(34 m/s²). The craft switched to glider configuration at 55,000 feet (17.4 km). The craft returned to the spaceport
Mojave Spaceport
thumb|right|235px|A retired [[Boeing 767-200]] that flew for [[Ansett Australia]] being cut open for scrap at Mojave AirportThe Mojave Air and Space Port , also known as the Civilian Aerospace Test Center, is located in Mojave, California, at an elevation of...
and landed safely.