WhiteKnightTwo, the twin fuselage carrier for the sub-orbital vehicle SpaceShipTwo, took off for its maiden flight 21 December 2008 from the Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, CA. WhiteKnightTwo, or “WK2,” flew for an hour.

True to his word that he would issue press releases only when there was something to report, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has revealed that the fourth test of Falcon 1 will take place between 28 September and 1 October 2008 from the Kwajalein Pacific island launch site.

In its press release dated September 9, 2008 (see below), Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) disclosed that it had been granted an Operational License from the US Air Force for the use of Space Launch Complex 40 (SLC-40) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on the Florida coast.

On August 17, 18, and 19, 2008 the New Mexico Museum of Space History at Alamagordo, New Mexico, along with its partners the , the Space Frontier Foundation, and Spaceport America, will host the DC-X/XA Reunion and 21st Century Space Access Seminar and Workshop.

On July 28, and again on August 1 and 2, at the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the Rocket Racing League debuted during a week-long showcase of experimental, exotic, and remarkable flying machines.

“I think you will agree that WhiteKnightTwo, or 'EVE' as we will be able to officially call her soon, is one of the most beautiful and extraordinary aviation vehicles ever developed.”

“Git’n ‘er done!” must be the operating phrase around the shops at Scaled Composites, Burt Rutan’s company that successfully built and flew the world’s first private aircraft to the edge of space. This craft, SpaceShipOne, reached the fringe and claimed the Ansari X-Prize while the other competitors watched from the stands or on their TV sets.

By G.B. Leatherwood

by G.B. Leatherwood.

by G.B. Leatherwood