WHITE KNIGHT & SS1 SPACE SHIP

Description

The innovative carrier plane "White Knight" was used to air launch SpaceShipOne. The White Knight mothership associated with Space Ship 1 was the first combo to be tested before a new one (combo White Knight II / X-37). SpaceShipOne is a spaceplane that completed the first privately funded (Virgin) spaceflight on June 21, 2004. The White Knight was utilized to haul SpaceShipOne to altitude and then released the piloted rocketplane. During its test programme, SpaceShipOne set a number of important "firsts", including first privately funded aircraft to exceed Mach 2 and Mach 3, first privately funded manned spacecraft to exceed 100km altitude, and first privately funded reusable manned spacecraft. (Scale : 1/72e)