CCO - Creative Commons (CC0 1.0) This media is in the public domain (free of copyright restrictions). You can copy, modify, and distribute this work without contacting the Smithsonian. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page. IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and image viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. More - https://iiif.si.edu View Manifest View in Mirador Viewer

Test pilot Mike Melvill wore this suit on June 21, 2004, during the first privately funded spaceflight of SpaceShipOne. After its launch from a carrier aircraft called White Knight, Melvill piloted SpaceShipOne to an altitude of 100 km (62 miles) before returning to land in Mojave, California. This test flight paved the way for two subsequent flights that earned the SpaceShipOne team the $10 million Ansari X Prize for the first privately funded spaceflights. Melvill also wore this suit on September 29, 2004, during one of those award-winning flights. Melvill partnered with Burt Rutan in a long career of designing and flight testing experimental aircraft. He gave his flight suit and accessories to the Museum in 2005 when SpaceShipOne entered the national collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft.

 Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin United States of America Type PERSONAL EQUIPMENT-Flight Clothing Pilot Mike Melvill
 Dimensions Clothing: 157.5 x 91.4cm (62 x 36 in.)
Other (Inseam): 66cm (26 in.)
Other (Sleeve): 66cm (26 in.)
3-D (on mannequin): 53.3 x 30.5 x 154.9cm (21 x 12 x 61 in.)
 Materials Fire resistant CarbonX fabric, brass zippers, velcro, embroidered patches
 Inventory Number A20060584000 Credit Line Gift of Mike and Sally Melvill Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Open Access (CCO)
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use. You may also like SpaceShipOne Folds Its Wing August 25, 2015