Scaled Composites Prepares for First SpaceShipTwo Glide Flight

The first "captive carry" and flight of VSS Enterprise or SpaceShip II over Mojave, California Monday March 22,2010. The center mounted spaceship is attached to the "mothership" WhiteKnight II for a series of flight tests prior to its first drop test later in the year.

Below are summaries of recent test flights of Scaled Composites’ WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft. It clear from the summaries that they are preparing for a SpaceShipTwo glide flight (SS2 GF01 mission practice).

Objectives:
SS2 GF01 mission practice
SS2 approach practice
Crew proficiency and training

Results:
All objectives achieved. Multiple SS2 approaches flown.

Objectives:
Payload ECS heat characterization
SS2 release dry run
SS2 GF01 mission practice
SS2 approach practice
Crew proficiency and training

Results:
All objectives achieved. Multiple SS2 approaches flown to touchdown.

Objectives:
SS2 approach simulations
GF01 glide card practice
Crew proficiency and training

Results:
All objectives achieved. Multiple SS2 approaches flown to touchdown.

Objectives:
SS2 release dry run
SS2 GF01 mission practice
SS2 approach practice
Crew proficiency and training

Results:
All objectives achieved. Multiple SS2 approaches flown to touchdown.