Binnie's flight followed test pilot Mike Melvill flying the same vehicle to 63.9 miles (102.9 km) on Oct. The flight qualified Scaled to win the Ansari XPRIZE, which offered $10 million to the first privately-built spacecraft to fly twice into space within a two-week period. It was rock solid and continued on up past the X-15 altitude," Binnie told in 2021 interview. In leaving the atmosphere, as I kept the motor running to 215,000 feet, the ship had zero roll, pitch yaw rates. His 24-minute flight reached a peak altitude of 69.6 miles (112 km), surpassing the internationally-recognized von Kármán line separating Earth's atmosphere from outer space and broke the record for a winged-craft set by the X-15 rocket plane in 1963.īinnie was the 442nd person to fly into space. "We kindly ask for privacy during this time for our family to grieve the loss of our husband, father, brother and friend."Īrrangements are being made for Binnie to be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.Īs a test pilot for Scaled Composites, the aerospace design firm founded by Burt Rutan (and today owned by Northrop Grumman), Binnie took off on board the SpaceShipOne rocket plane on Oct. ![]() "With overwhelming grief, sadness and sorrow we announce the passing of our beloved Brian," his family members posted on Binnie's Facebook page. 15) was confirmed by his family on Sunday. Brian Binnie, who in 2004 became the second person in history to pilot a private craft into space, has died at the age of 69.īinnie's death on Thursday (Sept.
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