MOJAVE -- Burt Rutan's space ship one made its first trip into sub-orbital outer space in pursuit of the $10 million Ansari X Prize.

It's a race into space, and it looks like they might just win.

Spaceship One took off from the Mojave airport attached to the belly of the White Kknight Wednesday morning.

But, it was what happened just after it separated from the White Knight at about 48,000 feet that scared onlookers, and even creator Burt

Rutan watching from below.

Spaceship One went into about two dozen vertical rolls, as it was traveling at 34,000 feet per second.

Rutan recommended to pilot Mike Melvill that he shut off the engine.

Melvill kept the engine on for a few more seconds to make sure he passed

the 62 -mile mark.

They still haven't determined what caused the roll. Melvill believes he may have caused it, and Rutan believes it may have been the craft's design combined with the wind.

Melville reached 64 miles into sub-orbital outer space, 10,000 feet more than required for the competition, and the craft touched safely down one hour and 20 minutes after it took off.

Rutan and Melvill came one step closer to winning the $10 million Ansari X Prize, and creating a new industry of privatized commercial space travel.

To win the prize they need to make one more trip past the 62-mile mark within the next 13 days.

Their next trip is planned for Monday although they have not confirmed liftoff time.