SpaceShipOne won the Ansari X Prize for private human spaceflight in 2004.
The spacecraft completed its two required flights within 14 days, earning the $10 million prize created to encourage privately funded human spaceflight. Its first qualifying flight took place on 29 September 2004, and its second followed on 4 October 2004.
SpaceShipOne was developed by Mojave Aerospace Ventures, a partnership involving Scaled Composites and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. Scaled Composites designed and built the vehicle under the direction of aerospace engineer Burt Rutan.
Mike Melvill piloted the first prize flight, while Brian Binnie piloted the second. The award required the spacecraft to carry a pilot and equivalent ballast for two additional passengers to an altitude above 100 kilometres. The achievement helped demonstrate that privately financed teams could reach space without relying entirely on government programs.