It’s been slow going for the world’s first commercial passenger space program, but Virgin Galactic is slowly but surely making progress. While it’s already gotten its SpaceShipTwo sub-orbital craft beyond the reaches of Earth’s atmosphere in successful tests before, it only did so with the help of a carrier vehicle, then glided back to earth and landed conventionally. The company hopes to install and test the craft’s rocket engine before the end of 2012, marking a major milestone in Virgin Galactic’s plans to create a space tourism business.
via Slash Gear
February 29, 2012
