California Dreaming: Space News From the Golden State

SpaceShipTwo in flight on Dec. 19, 2012. (Credit: Virgin Galactic)

MOJAVE

WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo reportedly went out flying on Monday. It did not appear to be a glide test. But, this probably means that one is coming fairly soon. I’m guessing later this week. The first glide flight took place just before Christmas, more than three months ago. (UPDATE: The duo were out flying again on Tuesday in another captive carry.)

This would be the second of three planned glide tests with the engine installed before powered flights begin. There’s a rumor of the first powered flight occurring in about three weeks’ time, but that remains unconfirmed.

As a sign of how busy things are, Scaled had an engine out on the test stand on Saturday. It’s not known if they fired up the engine, but it is clear that the Easter holiday provided no rest for the weary. (UPDATE:  The engine was indeed fired on Saturday.)

Meanwhile, Virgin Galactic was out on a separate test stand doing brief firings of an engine last week. I don’t know for sure, but my best guess that it is a liquid engine designed to power LauncherOne and SpaceShipTwo.

HAWTHORNE

On Sunday, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced that his electric car company, Tesla Motors, had its first profitable quarter. He also hinted at bigger news coming on Tuesday.

We’ll have to see just how important it is in the morning.