First launch of commercial space craft deemed success

The World

Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShip2 made its first successful launch and landing over the weekend, reaching 45,000 feet over the Mojave Desert and gliding back down to the surface. The space craft is being tested with hopes that it will be ready for commercial use by 2012, sending civilians willing to pay the hefty ticket price into space for the first time. We talk with Jim Meigs, editor-in-chief of Popular Mechanics, about the launch and what it means for the space tourism industry.

Will you support The World today?

The story you just read is available for free because thousands of listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Every day, reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you: We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.

Make a gift today, and you’ll get us one step closer to our goal of raising $25,000 by June 14. We need your help now more than ever!