MOJAVE (AP) — A jet with a rocket plane slung under its belly took off early Monday on a mission to make the first privately financed manned spaceflight.

The exotic White Knight mothership lifted off about 6:45 a.m. PDT and was to take an hour to reach about 50,000 feet and release the rocket.

SpaceShipOne pilot Mike Melvill was to then ignited the rocket's motor and attempt to soar 62 miles high, then quickly fall back into the atmosphere.