Success! SpaceShipTwo hits new heights during rocket test

[n2doc]

Alan Boyle, Science Editor


Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo fires its rocket engine after separating from its WhiteKnightTwo carrier plane on Friday.


MOJAVE, Calif. — With Virgin Galactic's chief pilot behind the controls for the first time, the company's SpaceShipTwo plane reached a new high on Friday in its first supersonic rocket-powered test of 2014.

The test at Mojave Air and Space Port was aimed at setting the stage for honest-to-goodness flights into outer space later this year, and eventually for commercial space tours.

"2014 is our year to do it for real," Mike Moses, a former space shuttle manager who now serves as Virgin Galactic's vice president of operations, told NBC News.

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http://www.nbcnews.com/science/liftoff-spaceshiptwo-celebrates-new-year-test-flight-2D11767010

[tblue37]

1. My daughter was hired this year as VG's flight surgeon. I am so proud that she

has found a position on the cutting edge of history!

[progressoid]

2. Cool!

I have a cousin that is an engineer there.

[tblue37]

3. If I were young and rich, I would buy a ticket, wouldn't you? nt

[Johonny]

4. No

because I want to be old and rich some day too.