Alan's Mojave Airport Weblog

Space Woodstock: Memories of a Party in the Desert

July 7, 2004 - Now that things around Mojave have settled down a bit and everyone has seen plenty of pictures of the launch hardware, I've gone back through the photos from Space Day and found a number that commemorate the unique feel of what went on there. Reports are that the crowd numbered between 11,000 and 15,000, and it was a uniquely American small-town morning.


In an afternoon, the town of Mojave's population almost doubled, and would double again the next morning. RVers line up for Mojave's first Space Party
	Not quite knowing what to expect, and not wanting to be caught off-guard, the Kern Sheriff's Department was out in big numbers, including an air unit. One officer later commented that it was about the tamest crowd he'd ever seen. That's what happens when a bunch of space nerds all get together...lots of fun, no headaches.
	Even the folks at NASA didn't want to miss this event. Buzz Aldrin watched from the VIP area. It's not known whether this was his means of arrival, but Ship 66 was parked amongst all the other transients that had arrived for the show.
Mojave's never seen this much press. Numerous live broadcasts put our little town on the map!
	Left: Some of the X-Prize folks, including Hamid Ansari, watch to see if SpaceShipOne will be the entrant to first make it into space. This flight doesn't count towards the competition, but rather prepares for the two back-to-back competition flights which will likely take place later this summer. Right: Four of the local youth who volunteered to serve the guests on this day when the world came to Mojave. Much of the effort was a volunteer one, and the proceeds from the concession sales went to benefit local charities. This is how America is supposed to work.

Above: I think it was Erik Lindbergh who looked out at the crowd and joked that the motto of the day should be: "All Hail SpaceShipOne!" Right: Only in America! Far Right: Mike Melvill gets congratulated by sponsor Paul Allen.
Departures: When it was all done, a parade of cool aircraft left, including a Pilatus PC-12 (right), the prototype Adam 501, which was designed by Burt Rutan, Mercy's VCV-based 412 (Mercy had two 412s on hand, but thankfully they weren't required), and the Alphajet chase aircraft.