Tell me a bio of Mike Melvill.

Include key facts about their life, career, achievements, and impact.

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Mike Melvill is a South African-born American astronaut and test pilot. Born on April 17, 1940, in Johannesburg, South Africa, Melvill moved to the United States in 1961 to pursue a career in aviation.

**Early Life and Education**

Melvill earned his private pilot's license in 1961 and later became a commercial airline pilot. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Pretoria in South Africa.

**Career**

Melvill began his career as a test pilot in the 1960s, flying various aircraft, including the F-104 Starfighter and the F-15 Eagle. In 1989, he joined the Scaled Composites company, founded by Burt Rutan, where he worked as a test pilot and flight engineer.

**Spaceflight Experience**

On June 21, 2004, Melvill became the first private citizen to fly into space aboard the SpaceShipOne spacecraft, a suborbital spaceplane designed by Scaled Composites. The flight, known as SpaceShipOne Flight 15P, reached an altitude of 62 miles (100 km) and marked a significant milestone in private spaceflight.

**Achievements and Impact**

Melvill's achievements include:

1. **First private citizen in space**: Melvill's flight on SpaceShipOne marked a significant milestone in private spaceflight, paving the way for future commercial spaceflight ventures.
2. **Test pilot and flight engineer**: Melvill's experience as a test pilot and flight engineer has been invaluable in the development of various aircraft and spacecraft.
3. **Spaceflight pioneer**: Melvill's contributions to private spaceflight have inspired a new generation of space enthusiasts and entrepreneurs.

**Awards and Recognition**

Melvill has received several awards and honors for his contributions to aviation and spaceflight, including:

1. **National Aviation Hall of Fame**: Melvill was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2005.
2. **International Air & Space Hall of Fame**: Melvill was inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame in 2005.
3. **Space Foundation's Space Achievement Award**: Melvill received the Space Foundation's Space Achievement Award in 2005.

Overall, Mike Melvill's contributions to aviation and spaceflight have been significant, and his achievements have paved the way for future generations of space explorers.
Mike Melvill is a South African-born American space explorer, best known for being the first commercial astronaut to pilot a spaceship into space on June 21, 2004. He was born on September 24, 1941, in Pretoria, South Africa.

Early Life and Education:

Melvill developed an interest in flying at a young age. He received his student pilot's license in 1963, and later earned a commercial pilot's license in 1967. After working as a commercial pilot for several airlines, Melvill moved to the United States in 1976 and became a U.S. citizen in 1980.

Career:

Melvill began his space-related career in 1996 when he became a test pilot and training pilot for Scaled Composites, a privately-funded aerospace company founded by Burt Rutan. In 2003, Melvill was selected as the first pilot for SpaceShipOne, a suborbital spaceplane developed by Scaled Composites.

Achievements:

On June 21, 2004, Melvill piloted SpaceShipOne on its first successful powered flight into space, reaching an altitude of 62 miles (100 kilometers). This achievement earned Scaled Composites a $10 million prize, and it marked the first commercial manned space flight. Over the next year, Melvill piloted SpaceShipOne on several more suborbital flights, including two flights that took him above the Karman line (the internationally recognized boundary between the atmosphere and outer space).

Impact:

Melvill's achievement marked a significant milestone in the development of private spaceflight, demonstrating that commercial companies could design and build a spacecraft capable of carrying humans into space. His achievement paved the way for future private spaceflight endeavors, such as Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo program.

Personal Life:

Melvill has been married to his wife, Lea, for over 50 years. He has three children and several grandchildren. After his spaceflight career, Melvill continued to work as a consultant and test pilot for Scaled Composites and its successor, The Spaceship Company.