Joe Walker flies a North American X-15 to a record altitude of 106,010 metres (347,800 feet) on X-15 Flight 90. Exceeding an altitude of 100 km, this flight qualifies as a human spaceflight under international convention.

SpaceShipOne becomes the first privately funded spaceplane to achieve spaceflight.

The second Chinese human spaceflight ''Shenzhou 6'' launched carrying Fèi Jùnlóng and Niè Hǎishèng for five days in orbit.