Mike Melvill
Pilot
SpaceShipOne test pilot who became the first man to enter space on a private flight.
He showed aerospace engineer Burt Rutan a homemade version of his design, and Rutan hired him on the spot.
He worked as an executive at the Scaled Composites engineering company.
He and his wife, Sally, had two sons together.
His space venture was financed by Paul Allen.