Gadgetopia

Scaled Composites, the X-Prize competitor funded by Microsoft mogul Paul Allen, and led by aviation uber-genius Burt Rutan, has scheduled a test flight that, if successful, will be the first space launch in history by the private sector. SpaceShipOne will rocket to 100 kilometers (62 miles) into sub-orbital space above ...

Virgin Galactic has stated that if it's current planned craft, SpaceShipTwo, is successful, they'll try to build an orbital vehicle, SpaceShipThree. Orbital vehicle SpaceShipThree (SS3) will be developed by space tourism company Virgin Galactic and Mojave-based SpaceShipTwo (SS2)-developer Scaled Composites, if the planned SS2 suborbital service is successful, says Virgin ...

Private spacecraft makes historic launch: SpaceShipOne is in the air as I write this, trying to become the first private, manned vehicle in space. I wish them every success toward this goal. Thousands gathered in the Mojave Desert to watch the launch of SpaceShipOne, the first private manned space flight. ...

Virgin Galactic: Richard Branson, that hot air balloning nut and playboy of the airline business, has created a new company to offer paid spaceflights. He's entered a deal with Scaled Composites to license the technology behind SpaceShipOne. By the end of the decade, Virgin Galactic the most exciting development ...

Scaled Composites' SpaceShipOne made its first X-Prize attempt this morning. Early measurements indicate that the craft made it to space, but it did so rifled-bullet style, rolling rapidly. The engines were shut down 11 seconds early as a result. A sudden roll due to a stuck actuator had also caused ...

Well, maybe not that far. Yet. The FAA on Wednesday licensed the first private rocket, and has given the green light for a real sub-orbital space flight. Burt Rutan and his California-based Scaled Composites have built SpaceShipOne, a funny looking rocket-powered plane that Burt hopes will usher in "a renaissance ...