SPACEPLANE FLIES INTO TROUBLE
The race to build a privately funded reusable spacecraft has reportedly suffered a setback after tests of one of the main contenders revealed its design may need to be modified. SpaceShipOne, a manned rocket plane built by California aerospace firm Scaled Composites (Â鶹´«Ã½, 10 May, p 12), pitched up uncontrollably during its third test flight in September, Aviation Week reports. The pilot regained control of the craft and landed safely.
SpaceShipOne’s designers used computer simulations to see how it would behave in flight, but did not put it through wind tunnel tests. It is not yet clear if the setback will…
