SpaceShipTwo has flown solo for the first time at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California.
Released at altitude early this morning from its carrier plane – the WhiteKnightTwo – the first, on-its-own aerial flight of the Virgin Galactic space vehicle successfully touched down on a runway.
The craft was piloted by two test engineers, checking out the maneuverability of the rocket plane as it glided to its touchdown.
As the craft flew through the air, one test pilot called out: “What a beautiful flying airplane.”
According to eye witnesses at the Mojave Air and Space Port, the glide to landing of the SpaceShipTwo lasted roughly 15 minutes.
The WhiteKnightTwo/SpaceShipTwo space launch system is backed by UK adventurer, Sir Richard Branson, and his firm, Virgin Galactic.
Today’s successful flight is a milestone, but more testing is ahead before the suborbital spaceship starts flying passengers to the edge of space.
By Leonard David