Virgin Galactic spaceline flights are edging closer with the US Federal Aviation Administration granting experimental launch permits for the company's Spaceship Two and WhiteKnight Two spacecraft.
With 80 test flights under its belt, WhiteKnight Two is well into its test plan. More recently contructed SpaceShip Two has so far safely completed 16 free flights including three that tested the vehicle's unique "feathering" re-entry system.
Scaled Composites, the US company developing the craft, confirmed the Spaceship Program was making steady progress with Spaceship Two the first rocket-powered vehicle that carries humans on board to receive the experimental launch permit.
Mobile Travel Agents, one of eight Australian agencies to sell the space tourism project, expressed hopes it would soon be able to send the first Virgin Galactic "future astronauts" into space.
"According to the advice we have received, this represents an important milestone in Virgin Galactic coming one step closer to bringing customers into space," MTA managing director Roy Merricks said.
