spacetoday.net: SpaceShipOne performs third powered test flight

Updated: Fri, May 14, 2004, 12:49 AM ET (0449 GMT)
Originally Posted: Thu, May 13, 2004, 2:57 PM ET (1857 GMT)
SpaceShipOne on 7th glide flight (Scaled Composites)

SpaceShipOne, the suborbital RLV under development by Scaled Composites, flew its third powered test flight Thursday morning. Scaled Composites reported that the vehicle reached a peak altitude of 64.6 km during the flight, its highest altitude to date. Scaled Composites offered no other details about the flight, saying that they would release more detailed data on its web site in the near future. The flight is the latest step in an incremental test program for the air-launched vehicle, widely considered the front-runner to win the Ansari X Prize, a $10 million award to the first privately-developed suborbital vehicle capable of carrying three people to 100 km twice within two weeks. Scaled has offered no details regarding when it will attempt the X Prize flights, but many observers expect that, barring any problems, the vehicle will be ready for its suborbital flights this summer.