posted 06-15-2005 12:29 PM               

I thought maybe your visitors might be interested in a special event this evening: www.youngeagles.org
All are welcome to log on and participate!

Mike will be our guest on this month's Young Eagles webchat, Wednesday, June 15 between 7 and 8 p.m. central time.

First Civilian Astronaut to Answer Your Questions
EAA Aviation Center - June 8, 2005 - He's flown fast and high before. But on June 21, 2004, Mike Melvill did something no one had ever done before - fly to space and back in the first commercially developed space plane.

On June 15, 2005, you'll be able to do something you've never done before, too. Chat live with the world's first civilian astronaut!

What is a webchat?
The Young Eagle Webchat is an opportunity for interesting people in aviation to answer your questions directly. The text-based chat is available on the third Wednesday of the month between 7 and 8 p.m. central time. Simply log in to the chat with your list of questions!

Meet Mike Melvill

On June 21, 2004, Michael W. Melvill piloted SpaceShipOne on its first flight past the edge of space and became the 433rd person to reach that outer limit. Two hours after the flight, he became the first civilian to receive commercial astronaut wings from the FAA, the Federal Aviation Administration.

Mike has been an experimental test pilot for more than 20 years, but flying SpaceShipOne to an altitude of more than 100 kilometers last year was, as he puts it, "a really good ride."

Mike also helped develop the docking system for SpaceShipOne, which will be at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh from July 25-31, along with its carrier aircraft, White Knight. It will be the only public appearance of SpaceShipOne and WhiteKnight, before SpaceShipOne is put on display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

SpaceShipOne won the $10 million Ansari X Prize last fall by being the first single spacecraft to fly to a minimum height of 100 kilometers - that's 62 miles - twice in a two-week period. On Sept. 29, Melvill flew SpaceShipOne to that height and Brian Binnie followed up with the second flight on Oct. 5.

More than a dozen teams sought the prize, which was created to stimulate space tourism.

Mike's flights weren't without some tense moments, however. During the June flight, he had to cope with wind shear and a control-system glitch. Then in September, as SpaceShipOne ascended it went into a roll at more than 10 revolutions per minute before Melvill was able to regain control.

Originally from Durban, South Africa, Melvill moved to the United States from England in the 1970s and became a U.S. citizen.

posted 06-15-2005 02:26 PM            

It's an exercise in semantics, perhaps, but he is not the "world's first civilian astronaut."

Elliot See and Neil Armstrong jointly hold that title, and they were selected back in 1962. There have been dozens more since.

It would be correct to call him "the first private pilot to earn astronaut wings," as he is described on his own company's website.

Sorry to nitpick!

posted 06-15-2005 02:40 PM               

Mike Melvill was the first to receive Civilian Astronaut Wings from the Federal Aviation Administration, with Brian Binnie being the second.

posted 06-16-2005 06:45 PM               

The whole CHAT was quite fascinating and I appreciate the TIP of it being held. Lots of younger fans with great questions.

There is a transcript available on the website. And they apparently have a monthly CHAT with someone of note.

Mr. Melvill mentioned several times that he enjoyed the experience.