Virgin Galactic Completes a Glide Test, Prepares for Rocket Tests

Virgin Galactic (NYSE: SPCE), the space tourism company founded by British billionaire Richard Branson, is on record saying it expects to begin carrying paying passengers to the edge of space this year, and possibly as early as this summer. Once these space tourism trips have begun, the company has promised investors it will quickly turn profitable, possibly as early as next year.

That's two "possibilities" in a row, but on Thursday, Virgin Galactic took another step toward making them both a reality.

Flying out of Spaceport America in New Mexico on Thursday afternoon, Virgin Galactic carrier aircraft VMS Eve released its VSS Unity spaceplane to conduct a glide test from 51,000 feet to first maneuver in the air and then conduct a runway landing. This was the company's second glide test conducted in New Mexico airspace.

Continue reading

Source Fool.com