Private "Enterprise" Flys in California

The SpaceShipTwo (SS2) "Enterprise" took to the bright skies of California today for the first time hailing the dawn of a NewSpaceAge. The Mojave Air and Space Port launched the WhiteKnightTwo carrier airplane for the nearly three-hour test flight in which VSS Enterprise remained attached, CNN video].

The sleek, six-passenger suborbital spacecraft is owned by Virgin Galactic. The private firm has collected about $45 million in deposits and fares from more than 330 aspiring amateur astronauts, each of whom will be charged $200,000 to experience a few minutes of suborbital spaceflight beginning in late 2011 or 2012 over the California Mojave desert or the high desert of New Mexico. Virgin may also launch the spacecraft from snow and ice-covered Sweden into the Aurora Borealis sometime in 2012 or 2013.

Commenting on the milestone flight today, Burt Rutan said: “This is a momentous day for the Scaled and Virgin Teams. The captive carry flight signifies the start of what we believe will be extremely exciting and successful spaceship flight test program.”

Sir Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Galactic added: “Seeing the finished spaceship in December was a major day for us but watching VSS Enterprise fly for the first time really brings home what beautiful, ground-breaking vehicles Burt and his team have developed for us. It comes as no surprise that the flight went so well; the Scaled team is uniquely qualified to bring this important and incredible dream to reality. Today was another major step along that road and a testament to US engineering and innovation.”

More from Alan Boyle at MSNBC, Leonard David at Space.com, and Jason Paur at Wired.