# Mike Melvill on Reddit (u/Mike_Melvill)

Part of Scientists on Reddit, researched with Autumn (https://www.autumn.ai) from public sources. Updated 2026-11-07. Interactive version: https://www.autumn.ai/resources/scientists-on-reddit/mike-melvill

Mike Melvill (1940–2026): Test pilot, flew SpaceShipOne to space.

- Reddit account: [u/Mike_Melvill](https://www.reddit.com/user/Mike_Melvill/) (AMA only)
- How we know it's theirs: [The 2016 r/science AMA, posted from this account](https://www.reddit.com/r/science/comments/53sl88/)
- Where they post, in the records we retrieved: r/science (18)
- Known activity in the posts we found: 2016 to 2016
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Melvill

## Moments

### u/Mike_Melvill in r/science, Sep 21, 2016 · Personal story

Replying to a redditor:

> Hey Mike, I'm 22 with an aerospace engineering degree and a private pilot's license. I would love to do what you do, but I have no idea how to get there. Any advice? Thanks in advance

> Sad to say you just have to be lucky! I happened to buy a set of plans to build a homebuilt plane. The designer happened to be Burt Rutan! I had never heard of Burt. When It was flying My wife and I flew it to Mojave to show it to Burt, he flew it and hired both of us during lunch that day! We both worked for Burt for 29 years!

Full thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/science/comments/53sl88/comment/d7wjke6/ · 26 points as of Nov 7, 2026

### u/Mike_Melvill in r/science, Sep 21, 2016 · Behind the scenes

In the thread "XPrize AMA: Hi I’m Mike Melvill, the world’s first commercial (non-governmental) astronaut. Self-taught engineer, I took up piloting mid-life and went on to fly the first private spacecraft into space at 63. AMA!".

> We got permission from the base commander of Edwards Air Force Base to take off in the mother ship, Whiteknight with me hanging under its belly in SpaceShipOne, climb to around 50,000 feet, and then drop the SS1 off the two hooks. I started the rocket motor, and pulled the nose up until I was near vertical, the accelerated to Mach 3 and at 170,000 feet I shut down the rocket motor, and coasted up to 328,000 feet, 62 miles.

(Excerpt.)
Full thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/science/comments/53sl88/comment/d7wj48d/ · 134 points as of Nov 7, 2026

### u/Mike_Melvill in r/science, Sep 21, 2016 · Personal story

Replying to a redditor:

> What was the scariest moment you've had when flying?

> Good question Swag_train! I have had several scary moments, including a few engine out forced landings, but the one that sticks in my mind was a flight test involving spins in a small two place aircraft designed by my Boss. I ended up in a flat spin starting at 14,000 feet, and I finally managed to recover at less than 1,000 feet after making 17 disorienting spinning turns. It was caught on video, so I was able to count the turns!

Full thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/science/comments/53sl88/comment/d7wivtw/ · 54 points as of Nov 7, 2026