SpaceShipTwo Makes First (Captive) Flight

I gotta say, this is one of the cooler things going. I'm really enjoying seeing this come to fruition.

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/03/spaceshiptwo-makes-first-captive-flight/

And an interesting sidenote from an article linked in that article about the mothership, WhiteKnightTwo:

The all-composite aircraft has a wingspan of 141 feet and is flown from the right fuselage. Unlike most airplanes of its size, it has no autopilot system the controls are simple pushrods and carbon-fiber cables. There is no fly-by-wire or even boosted controls: It’s a true stick and rudder airplane. This is a plane that could bring space flight to the masses, yet the controls are more Piper Cub than Boeing 777.

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/07/flying-the-plane-that-may-take-you-to-edge-of-space/#ixzz0j0gaQEKw