Space tourism gets off the ground: WhiteKnight2

William Atkins
Monday, 22 December 2008 19:14

Science - Space

The SS2 rocket plane will reach an altitude of about 110 kilometers (68 miles)—which is considered the beginning of outer space.

Additional information about WK2, SS2, and Spaceport America, where the flights will originate, are found at the iTWire article “First 'spaceport' gets FAA approval in U.S.”

The general manager for the Mojave Air and Space Port, Stuart Witt, stated, "It's a big day. I think it's a real reflective time. When everybody's looking for a bailout, there are still people that are doing something for a much larger reason.” [Fox News: “Space Tourism Aircraft Makes Maiden Test Flight”]

Witt added, "And here we are on a Sunday morning...in a place out here in the middle of nowhere and really neat stuff is happening. It just looked beautiful. What brings people to this desolate landscape on a Sunday morning in December is more about what forced them here."

And, "Innovation by the private sector is a void being filled because NASA deserted 90 percent of the sandbox and left it open for us to fill." [Fox News]

During this December 21st flight, the WK2 was accompanied by a Beechcraft King Air aircraft, which filmed the event.

To see the video of the WK2 flight, please go to the Flightglobal.com website “World Exclusive Video: WhiteKnightTwo flies!”.