Taxiing for takeoff from Mojave Spaceport was originally planned for 06:30, because the wind conditions in that area are most favorable in the early morning.

After an ascent to 47,000 feet (14.3 km) coupled with the White Knight airplane, the SpaceShipOne craft separated at 07:50 and immediately ignited its rocket.

Shortly after ignition, at about 60,000 feet (18 km), the craft unexpectedly rolled 90 degrees to the left, due to wind shear.

Scaled Composites, the makers of SpaceShipOne, announced the planned spaceflight on June 2, 2004, and invited the public to watch.

Distinguished attendees included former astronaut Buzz Aldrin and the Commanding officer of Edwards Air Force Base.

Nevertheless, the crowd was exuberant, cheering every milestone in the flight, including the double sonic boom following the thrust phase.

Not unlike the first U.S. and Soviet space travelers in 1961, and China's first successful spaceflight last October, these private citizens are pioneers in their own right.

[1]The X Prize Foundation issued a press release about the flight: We congratulate the entire Scaled Composites' team, in particular Burt Rutan and Mike Melvill for achieving this tremendous milestone.

The entire X PRIZE organization looks forward to receiving Scaled Composites' 60-day notice indicating they are ready to make their attempt to win the $10 million purse.

Once such notice is received, we will make the information publicly available.The Federal Aviation Administration presented Melvill with astronaut wings in a ceremony at 10:22, two hours after landing.

Furthermore, the X PRIZE rules require a repeat flight within two weeks, which the Scaled Composites team had no intention of making.