A record in two stages with a bonus

The initial X-Prize flight occurred on 29 September 2004 when Mike Melvill piloted Spaceship One for 24 minutes and reached an altitude of 337,500 ft (102.87 km). The

second 24-minute flight, by Binnie, reached 367,442 ft (111.99 km) above the surface of the Earth and, in addition to securing the X-Prize, also broke the altitude record set by X-15 NASA test pilot Joseph Walker on 22 August 1963. An initial flight, and first attempt at the X-Prize, had taken place on 21 June 2004, when Mike Melvill flew a 24-minute flight to 328,491ft (100.12 km) to the fringes of space. However, a flight control malfunction during the flight meant that the second attempt, to win the X-Prize, would have to be delayed beyond the required two-week turnaround. The Spaceship One programme was completed with the attainment of the X-Prize and the team is now working with Virgin Galactic on Spaceship Two designs to extend the objectives and opportunities further than the original prize.