Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo successfully completed its third rocket-powered test flight today, Jan. 10, meaning it is well on its way towards making the world's first commercial suborbital spaceflight, according to Reuters.
Virgin Galactic chief pilot David Mackay and co-pilot Mark Stucky controlled SpaceShipTwo as it flew at an altitude of over 71,000 feet above ground. In comparison, the ship went "twice as high" as normal jetliners travel, according to Virgin Galactic.
The a six-passenger, two-pilot spacecraft completed its 20-second rocket burn over California's Mojave desert, moving 1.4 times faster than the speed of sound, Virgin Galactic said.
The SpaceShipTwo was designed and built by Mojave, Calif.-based a subsidiary of Northrop Grumman Corp, according to Reuters.
"She flew brilliantly," Mackay said in a statement from Virgin Galactic. "To be behind the controls and fly it as the rocket ignited is something I will never forget."
The spacecraft has made 28 glide flights, and is modeled after the award-winning SpaceShipOne prototype.
Virgin Galactic is a sister company of billionaire Richard Branson's London-based Virgin Group, according to Reuters.
The company is already selling rides on SpaceShipTwo for approximately $250,000. Over 650 people have already paid for rides or put down deposits as of press time.
"I couldn't be happier to start the New Year with all the pieces visibly in place for the start of full space flights. 2014 will be the year when we will finally put our beautiful spaceship in her natural environment of space," Branson said in a statement, according to Reuters.
SpaceShipTwo's last flight was in September.
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