SpaceShipOne is a suborbital spaceplane designed for space tourism and research purposes. It was developed by Mojave Aerospace Ventures, a company founded by aerospace engineer Burt Rutan and funded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. SpaceShipOne made history by becoming the first privately-funded, manned vehicle to reach space.

Key facts about SpaceShipOne:

1. SpaceShipOne’s First Spaceflight: On June 21, 2004, SpaceShipOne completed its first suborbital spaceflight, reaching an altitude of 100 kilometers (62.5 miles), which is often considered the boundary of space. This achievement earned it the Ansari X Prize, a $10 million award for the first privately-funded, reusable spacecraft to reach space twice within two weeks.
2. Suborbital Spaceplane: SpaceShipOne is designed for suborbital flights, which means it goes into space briefly and then returns to Earth. It does not achieve the necessary velocity to enter orbit around the Earth.
3. White Knight: SpaceShipOne was launched from a carrier aircraft called White Knight, which carried the spaceplane to a high altitude before releasing it. This air launch system allowed for flexibility in choosing the launch location.
4. Thrust and Glide: SpaceShipOne uses a hybrid rocket engine for powered flight, during which it accelerates to reach space. After reaching space, it glides back to Earth, using its wings for controlled descent and landing.
5. Pilot: The spaceplane is typically operated by a pilot and one or more passengers. It can carry a small crew of individuals who experience several minutes of weightlessness during the suborbital flight.
6. Legacy: SpaceShipOne’s success paved the way for the development of commercial suborbital space tourism ventures, such as Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo, which is based on the SpaceShipOne design. Virgin Galactic aims to offer commercial spaceflights to paying customers.
7. Aerospace Advancements: SpaceShipOne demonstrated the feasibility of private, reusable spaceflight vehicles and contributed to the advancement of aerospace technology, particularly in the development of hybrid rocket propulsion systems.

SpaceShipOne’s historic achievement marked a significant milestone in the commercial space industry and inspired other companies and entrepreneurs to invest in the development of spacecraft for tourism, research, and potential future space exploration.