Private spaceflight draws closer
By Dr David Whitehouse
BBC News Online science editor
Breaking the sound barrier
The US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has granted a licence to Scaled Composites for a sub-orbital launch of their SpaceShipOne rocket-plane.
The license clears the way for an attempt on the X-prize later this year.
The X-prize of $10m (£5.4m) is for the first privately funded, non-governmental body that can launch a three-person craft into space twice in two weeks.
To claim the prize SpaceShipOne will have to reach an altitude of 100 km, the "official" boundary of space.
Space voyager
The FAA has given approval to Scaled Composites allowing it to expand its flight testing of SpaceShipOne - a privately-financed rocket plane to carry passengers into space.
Scaled Composites chief is Burt Rutan who was behind the design of Voyager - the first aircraft to fly non-stop around the world without refuelling.
SpaceShipOne and its carrier mothership, White Knight, were first shown to the public on 18 April 2003. Since then it has undergone extensive tests and during one powered flight it broke the sound barrier.
It might go into space this year
It uses a hybrid rocket motor that utilises a combination of liquid and solid-fuel.
SpaceShipOne has also undergone extensive glide flights, with the last one carried out last month.
Last December it was announced that multi-billionaire Paul Allen - co-founder of Microsoft - is a major investor in the project.
The X-prize was started in 1996 and has many groups registered. Analysts expect it to be claimed this year with Scaled Composites the favourite to do so.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3610755.stm
By Dr David Whitehouse
BBC News Online science editor
Breaking the sound barrier
The US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has granted a licence to Scaled Composites for a sub-orbital launch of their SpaceShipOne rocket-plane.
The license clears the way for an attempt on the X-prize later this year.
The X-prize of $10m (£5.4m) is for the first privately funded, non-governmental body that can launch a three-person craft into space twice in two weeks.
To claim the prize SpaceShipOne will have to reach an altitude of 100 km, the "official" boundary of space.
Space voyager
The FAA has given approval to Scaled Composites allowing it to expand its flight testing of SpaceShipOne - a privately-financed rocket plane to carry passengers into space.
Scaled Composites chief is Burt Rutan who was behind the design of Voyager - the first aircraft to fly non-stop around the world without refuelling.
SpaceShipOne and its carrier mothership, White Knight, were first shown to the public on 18 April 2003. Since then it has undergone extensive tests and during one powered flight it broke the sound barrier.
It might go into space this year
It uses a hybrid rocket motor that utilises a combination of liquid and solid-fuel.
SpaceShipOne has also undergone extensive glide flights, with the last one carried out last month.
Last December it was announced that multi-billionaire Paul Allen - co-founder of Microsoft - is a major investor in the project.
The X-prize was started in 1996 and has many groups registered. Analysts expect it to be claimed this year with Scaled Composites the favourite to do so.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3610755.stm
