Space Plane Takes First Test Flight

Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo took to the skies for the first time yesterday over the Mojave Desert, an important step toward passenger flights in space in 2011. “This is a momentous day,” says Burt Rutan, who built the craft and its mothership for Richard Branson’s company. The combo flew for about 3 hours, reports Space.com.

“The captive carry flight signifies the start of what we believe will be extremely exciting and successful spaceship flight test program,” Rutan says.


(More Richard Branson stories.)