By ANN Correspondent Wes Oleszewski
On the big screen TV
that shows the image of SpaceShipOne as seen from the long-range
cameras at Edwards AFB, the steady arrowhead with its straight
white vapor trail suddenly turns into a rapidly rolling corkscrew.
Most of the spectators simply accept the image as normal, but a few
in the crowd, those acquainted with high speed- high altitude
flight realize that something is very wrong. There is the sudden
awareness that the carnival atmosphere on the ground at Mojave
could now turn into something far more serious.
X Prize day at Mojave started before dawn with SpaceShipOne
waiting in its hangar and crowds of spectators gathering behind the
fence beneath the airport's control tower. In an oasis of halogen
and neon lights everyone who was anyone in aviation and space
gathered in the "VIP area" all waiting to see history being made.
Although the VIP area was open to just a few of the people gathered
at Mojave, we thought it may be interesting to give all of our ANN
readers a VIP pass and take you now, to the other side of the fence
for a view of the event.
A cold desert wind is blowing prior to sunrise as the
jumbo-screen TV presents assorted images and interviews explaining
the X Prize and introducing those who wish to have it. Oversized
models of each of the X Prize vehicles are on display and available
for touching as well as seeing. Even model rocket institution Estes
is here with their new line of X Prize flying replicas for sale. A
few lucky souls manage to make their way up into the observation
room of the control tower by riding the only elevator in the city
of Mojave. Above that observation room, in the cab of the tower and
isolated from the spectators, two FAA controllers go about their
duty as if it is just another day. Below the tower the crowd of
spectators begins to grow in numbers, peppered with cameras and
lenses of all sorts.
Shortly after sunrise SpaceShipOne makes its entrance, slung
beneath the belly of its mother ship White Knight. SpaceShipOne
pilot Mike Melvill has his arm stuck out of one of its circular
windows, waving to the crowd. This is a gesture that the folks
behind the fence have been waiting for and a cheer goes up. After a
brief stop at the end of the runway, checklists are completed and
ATC gives White Knight the clearance for takeoff. Together the
combination of White Knight and SpaceShipOne rolling for takeoff
appears like something that should be on a loading dock rather than
flying, but when they lift off their image is that of elegant grace
and the innovation of Scaled Composites. In minutes the mother ship
and its spaceship are joined by their chase planes and the long
circular climb to the drop altitude is started. Behind the fence
some of the eyes are focused upward, but most of the people take
the opportunity to stroll and socialize. For the better part
of an hour the flock of aircraft climb until they are little more
than white specks in the deep blue desert sky. On the big screen
the television image shows SpaceShipOne's engine bell and a section
of her tail by way of the onboard camera. Over the public address
speakers the voice announces that there are just three minutes to
drop.
Of course the one thing that the announcer neglects to tell the
crowd is which direction they should look. By now the aircraft are
invisible and the sound of their engines cannot be heard. Behind
the fence all eyes seem pointed in different directions as the
count to drop reaches zero. The big screen shows the picture of
ignition and the eyes searching the sky strain for any sign of the
ascent. Someone calls "There it is!" and with a unified gasp
everyone snaps their attention to the sky just over the west end of
the runway. There in the sky is a white puff of smoke and a rapidly
extending contrail that points to SpaceShipOne. For the first time
the crowd is absolutely silent. Some 30 miles away, radar guided
long-range cameras at Edwards AFB are locked on the ascending
vehicle. Suddenly the arrowhead with the white vapor trail
begins a high rate roll. In the crowd most watch thinking this is a
normal part of the ascent, but those who know the ways of high
speed- high altitude flight hold a collective breath. This rolling
is not normal. The word comes from the ground to shut the engine
down and in short order Melvill nulls out the roll through the use
of his thrusters.
By way of its onboard cameras, SpaceShipOne is seen going into
the feather configuration and a cheer again goes up from the crowd.
As the roll stops and the vehicle appears full stabilized, even
those holding their breath begin to relax.
Now began the long period of sky searching. Although the big
screen TV showed the onboard view of the descent, SpaceShipOne was
far from being in visual range. Eyes are pointed in every direction
in the hope of spotting that single white speck in the sky. Over
and over the chase planes were mistaken for SpaceShipOne as
spectators pointed fingers overhead.
Twin sonic booms signaled that SpaceShipOne was getting close.
The sonic booms are similar to those heard during shuttle landings
and are caused by the nose and vertical stabilizers breaking the
sound barrier. After another long period of sky searching, the
formation of chase-planes, White Knight and SpaceShipOne come from
out of the sun and pass overhead in a fine victory formation. The
desert wind has predictably died and the windsock now hangs
motionless.
In a scene reminiscent of Edwards in the days of Yeager and
Crossfield, the formation circles overhead and then escorts
SpaceShipOne onto final. Melvill drops the landing and greases his
spacecraft onto the runway centerline as the throng of spectators
roar in approval. History is made. After SpaceShipOne comes to a
halt and the ground support vehicles race to its side, White Knight
makes a graceful low pass over the scene. Minutes later
SpaceShipOne is towed to the ramp area near the VIP fence and
Melvill stands atop it in a celebration of the day's event as well
as the future to which it will lead. Behind the fence everyone has
a sense the implications of this flight goes far beyond the X
Prize. The excitement extends out into the future of space travel
and the very real possibility that you too may be able to one day
fly in space.