Second flight using rocket power

SpaceShipTwo reaches a speed of Mach 1.43 and successfully completes all its test objectives in the second flight under its own power. WhiteKnightTwo drops SpaceShipTwo at 46,000 feet and a 20-second burn pushes the space craft to a maximum altitude of 69,000 feet. During flight, it tests supersonic aerodynamics and the feather mechanism that uses wing movements to create air resistance that slow it down during descent. Branson:

We couldn’t be more delighted to have another major supersonic milestone under our belts as we move toward a 2014 start of commercial service