Annals Of Adventure–Going For 2: SpaceShipOne is about to make its second attempt to reach suborbital space (any minute now). If the privately designed and built spacecraft is successful, aero-wiz Burt Rutan and Microsoft bazillionaire Paul Allen (who has funded the effort) will pocket the $10 million Ansari X prize. But it’s no slam dunk. SpaceShipOne started spinning wildly during the top of the climb last week. I thought we were about to see a test pilot die live on television. But pilot Mike Melvill just shrugged it all off, after bringing the space plane back under control, and doing a barrel (on purpose) just before landing safely. I guess that’s why he has the Right Stuff. Seems Rutan and Allen didn’t see it that way, though. Melvill has been benched in favor of another test pilot for today’s flight. Stay tuned. We’ll update after the attempt…



“Okay, Brian. No f*cking around. If we see so much as a showoffy wing-waggle, we’re going to dock your pay, umm, $10 million…”