Greenside's spaceman

Mike Melvill (64) became the first man to pilot a privately-financed craft into space on June 21, 2004. He was born in Greenside, Johannesburg, and attended Highbury School in Hillcrest before going to Hilton College from 1954 to 1958 but didn't get his Matric. He married Sally, a St Anne's girl, in Gretna Green, England, as her father didn't approve of Mike. A few years later the couple and their children moved to the US where Mike took flying lessons and got together with aviation engineer Burt Rutan. Over the years they have created several experimental planes including the Global Flyer that Steve Fossett flew in the first solo, non-stop round-the-world flight in 67 hours. Mike returned to his alma mater earlier this year to give them a $2 note which he took with him into space. It was signed by Mike and Paul Benny, who took the craft up a second time.