Space Exploration Technologies, better known as SpaceX, hopes launch its second Falcon 9 rocket in late October. The goal is putting its Dragon capsule in orbit for the first time. The launch is part of a design and test program started in 2008 after the Southern California company, founded by Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk, received a NASA contract for flights to the International Space Station. The $1.6 billion contract, for 12 cargo delivery... 

SpaceShipTwo staged a dress rehearsal for its glide flight and flew with a crew for the first time. Anticipation mounted yesterday as word spread that SpaceShipTwo, attached to its mother ship Eve, departed the Mojave Air and Space Port. Many, including us, were anxious to hear whether the first glide flight of the spacecraft also known as VSS Enterprise would happen, especially since we knew a chase plane followed SpaceShipTwo into the sky.... 

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The successful launch of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket into orbit last week once again pushed the private space race back into the spotlight. While the Falcon 9 is slated to begin carrying cargo to the International Space Station, it is also designed so that it could one day carry human passengers as well. With the Falcon 9 making it to orbit on the first try, it undoubtedly gave a boost to the private space industry. There are several companies... 

They’ve done it again. Space Exploration Technologies launched its Falcon 9 rocket into earth orbit on its inaugural flight today, a key milestone in the startup’s plan to take cargo into space once the last of the space shuttles retires. The two stage, 180-foot rocket left the pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida at about 2:45 p.m. Eastern. It achieved earth orbit nine minutes later. The lauch this afternoon followed... 

Virgin Galactic has released video from yesterday’s first captive flight of SpaceShipTwo, also known as the VSS Enterprise. Yesterday’s flight lasted 2 hours and 54 minutes and flew to 45,000 feet. It was the 25th flight for WhiteKnightTwo since the aircraft first flew back in December of 2008. The video from Virgin Galactic shows crews preparing for the early morning flight as well as take off, air-to-air shots from chase aircraft... 

Virgin Galactic has released some details about today’s first captive flight of SpaceShipTwo. The early morning flight lasted for nearly three hours and achieved an altitude of 45,000 feet. Attached to WhiteKnightTwo, the second generation spacecraft from Scaled Composites lifted off at 7:05am from the Mojave Air and Space Port. Scaled Composites founder and legendary aerospace designer Burt Rutan said it was a momentous day for the Scaled... 

Ford and United Space Alliance are cribbing from the movie and gaming industries by using virtual-reality software to create better cars — and spaceships. The automaker and the aerospace company — a lead contractor for the space shuttle — are sharing their experience with animation software to create simulations that benefit astronauts and motorists. In Ford’s case, engineers and designers work in cyberspace to design... 

We’ve got video of last night’s unveiling of VSS Enterprise , the vessel Richard Branson and Virgin Galactic will use the carry well-heeled folks to the edge of space. Sir Richard and the guys at Scaled Composites rolled Enterprise out of her hangar at the Mojave Air and Space Port, where it was christened by Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger and his less-burly colleague, Gov. Bill Richardson of…  Read More →

On a cold and windy night at the Mojave Air and Space Port, the VSS Enterprise was unveiled to the public tonight. Attached to its mother ship, the vehicle better known as SpaceShipTwo is expected to be the first commercial spacecraft when it enters service with Virgin Galactic. SpaceShipTwo was built by Scaled Composites under the guidance of legendary aircraft designer Burt Rutan. The carbon composite spacecraft uses the same fuselage as its... 

After more than five years of waiting, Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo is ready to be unveiled to the public tonight at a ceremony in the Mojave desert. Following on the success of SpaceShipOne in 2004, the six passenger SpaceShipTwo already has a backlog of more than 300 passengers who are waiting for their ride into space. Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson, legendary aerospace designer Burt Rutan  and a host of VIPs are gathered... 

For a lot of aviation geeks, hanging out at an airport and looking at airplanes is…well…just something you do. Some airports are better than others. KJFK used to have the Concorde, and it’s still great, along with KLAX, if you like 747s. But few airports compare to KMHV. The Mojave Air and Space Port is one of those places where you can show up on any day and be assured of seeing something very cool. I still remember the first time... 

For aviation geeks, hanging out at an airport watching airplanes is just something you do. Some airports are better than others. JFK used to have the Concorde and it’s still great, along with LAX if you like 747s. But few airports compare to KMHV, also known as Mojave Airport, where the future is now. The Mojave Air and Space Port is one of those places where you …  Read More →

Another team has qualified for a $150,000 prize in NASA’s Norththrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge, having successfully flown its rocket lander in Southern California. Masten Space Systems joins Armadillo Aerospace in qualifying for Level One of the Lunar Lander Challenge and the $150,000 second-place purse. Its vehicle, called “Xombie,” lifted off from a launch pad at the Mojave Air and Space Port on Wednesday. The 715-pound...