Space travel moves one step closer as Virgin Galactic's space tourism rocket achieves first solo flight

First solo glide flight: Virgin Galactic's space tourism rocket SpaceShipTwo was released over the Mojave Desert in California yesterday


Virgin Galactic's space tourism rocket SpaceShipTwo achieved its first solo glide flight yesterday, under the watchful eye of Sir Richard Branson.

It was the first time the spaceship has flown on its own and the success of the test flight means that the company is one step closer to carrying tourists into space.

Branson called the flight a 'very big deal'. He said: 'There are a number of big deals on the way to getting commercial space travel becoming a reality. This was a very big step.

'We now know that the spaceship glides. We know it can be dropped safely from the mothership and we know it can land safely. That's three big ticks.'


Success: Manned by two pilots, the craft flew freely for 11 minutes before landing at an airport runway followed by the mothership


SpaceShipTwo was carried aloft by its mothership to an altitude of 45,000ft and released over the Mojave Desert.

After the separation, SpaceShipTwo, manned by two pilots, flew freely for 11 minutes before landing at an airport runway followed by the mothership. The entire test flight lasted about 25 minutes.

'It flew beautifully,' said Virgin Galactic chief executive George Whitesides.

The six-passenger SpaceShipTwo is undergoing rigorous testing before it can carry tourists to space. In the latest test, SpaceShipTwo did not fire its rocket engine to climb to space.

Until now, SpaceShipTwo has flown attached to the wing of its special jet-powered mothership dubbed WhiteKnightTwo. Sunday was the first time the spaceship flew on its own.


Moment of truth: SpaceShipTwo detaches from the wing of its special jet-powered mothership, dubbed WhiteKnightTwo


SpaceShipTwo will make a series of additional glide flights before rocketing to space.

Sir Richard added: 'The next big step will be the rocket tests actually on the spacecraft itself.

'We've obviously done thousands of rocket tests on the ground, the next big test is in the air. We'll be doing gentle rocket tests in the air, ultimately culminating into taking the spaceship into space.'

SpaceShipTwo, built by famed aircraft designer Burt Rutan, is based on a prototype that won a $10million (£6.3million) prize in 2004 for being the first manned private rocket to reach space.


High-flier: The six-passenger SpaceShipTwo is undergoing rigorous testing before it can carry tourists to space.


In the latest test, SpaceShipTwo did not fire its rocket engine to climb to space
Tickets to ride aboard SpaceShipTwo cost $200,000 (£125,000). Some 370 customers have paid deposits totalling $50million (£31.3million), according to Virgin Galactic.

Commercial flights will fly out of New Mexico where a spaceport is under construction.

Officials from Virgin Galactic and other dignitaries will gather at the spaceport on October 22 for an event commemorating the finished runway. The event will also feature a flyover by SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnightTwo.


Pleased: Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson described the test flight as 'a very big deal'


Mass appeal? An artist's conception of SpaceShipTwo during a sub-orbital flight



How it works: SpaceShipTwo was built by famed aircraft designer Burt Rutan





source : dailymail