Secular Café: Virgin Galactic gets Okay for Space Ship 2

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Virgin Galactic gets Okay for Space Ship 2 May 31st 2012, 12:54 Quote: Richard Branson gets nod to strap rocket on SpaceShipTwo By Brid-Aine Parnell The millionaire transporter has got an experimental launch permit from the US Federal Aviation Administration for the ship and its carrier aircraft, the WhiteKnightTwo, the space biz announced. The pair have already done some flying together but haven't done any rocket-powered flight yet. The WhiteKnightTwo has done 80 test flights and the SS2 has been up 16 times, including three tests that checked out the craft's re-entry system. Virgin have also fired the tyre-rubber-and-laughing-gas-powered rocket in 10 tests, successfully completing full duration burns, but this is the first time they'll be strapping it on the SS2 for a test fire. Scaled Composites, the spacecraft builder, will fly the SS2 a couple of more times with the unlit rocket aboard to ensure the ship works well with the extra weight. In the meantime, integration of the rocket's components through the summer before a full blasting flight expected towards the end of the year. ... http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/05...ht_permission/

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