[Lokibob]

More pictures on space.com.

[no-s]

Holy Cow! What a ride! Notice how none of the important stuff was in the way of the asphalt. I bet these guys will be up an at 'em after the holidays...

[Damocles]

Well, that's slightly embarrassing after such a great accomplishment...

[Joe Boucher]

bump

[bonesmccoy]

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.

[Paradox]

Not to be a scaremongerer(ererer), but I hope Burt and crew are going to subject that craft to extensive testing to make sure its OK. Composite materials don't fail like "regular" materials (of course, Burt has forgotten more than I will ever know about composites...)

[RightWhale]

So? It's a glider. Gliders do that all the time.

[Thud]

ping