Mojave, California, April 18, 2003:
Scaled Composites today unveiled the existence of a commercial manned space program. This previously hidden, active research program has been in the works at its facility for two years. This program includes an airborne launcher (the White Knight), a space ship (SpaceShipOne), rocket propulsion, avionics, simulator and ground support elements.

Master of Ceremonies, Cliff Robertson, introduced Burt Rutan who explained the history and the components of the program. Other dignitaries who attended the event were Dr. Maxim Faget (pioneer configuration designer of the early NASA space program from the Mercury through the Apollo programs), Erik Lindbergh (grandson of Charles Lindbergh and President of the Lindbergh Foundation), and Dennis Tito (Soyuz space tourist).

Further information about the space program and high-resolution photographs are available at the Scaled Composites website: http://www.scaled.com/
 
Contact Magazine Photos:
Photos you won't see anywhere else on the net.

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White Knight

 

SpaceShipOne
Both Craft Together
The full view
History in the Making

Burt Rutan,  to his right is  Dr. Maxim Faget,  and to his left,  Buzz Aldrin

Although this story is outside the scope of what CONTACT!
would normally publish, we appreciate the invitation and
hospitality we received from Scaled, and wanted to showcase
(once again) things you my not find in the other aviation
publications. Although I'm sure they'll cover the story well,
I doubt they will have photos quite like these.

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Last Updated: 04-18-03