SpaceShipOne was making one in a series of test flights in preparation for attempting a sub-orbital space flight. With pilot Brian Binnie at the rocket plane's controls, the craft's left landing gear retracted at touchdown. SpaceShipOne veered to the left, departing the runway with its left wing down.
Damage from the landing incident was minor and is easily repairable, reported Scaled Composites, designer and builder of the craft. SpaceShipOne, its builders hope, will be the first privately built, passenger-carrying sub-orbital rocket plane.
There were no injuries caused by the landing mishap, with pilot Binnie reportedly in A-OK condition and primed for a future flight.
View: Full Article | Source: space.com
