spacetoday.net: FAA issues launch license for SpaceShipOne

Posted: Wed, Apr 7, 2004, 9:34 PM ET (0134 GMT)
SpaceShipOne on 7th glide flight (Scaled Composites)

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a launch license for Scaled Composite's SpaceShipOne, the first license ever issued for a manned reusable suborbital vehicle. The FAA's Office of Commercial Space Transportation issued the license on April 1, but did not officially announce the license until Wednesday afternoon. The license covers a sequence of suborbital flights over a one-year period, but the FAA release did not offer more details. The license is required for Scaled Composites to perform more advanced test flights of SpaceShipOne, the company's entry in the X Prize competition. SpaceShipOne has completed a number of test flights, including one rocket-powered flight last December, under an experimental aviation license, but FAA regulations require vehicles like SpaceShipOne to obtain launch vehicle licenses for suborbital flights. Scaled has offered hints that it is planned another powered test flight in the near future. The FAA is also evaluating applications from two other companies developing suborbital vehicles.