Burt Rutan’s SpaceShipOne had a successful drop test yesterday. This demonstrated the ability to take off with the vehicles mated (which had already been demonstrated in previous captive-carry flights), to smoothly separate the mated vehicles, and for both vehicles to fly safely back to Mojave. A couple more tests, and they’ll be ready to integrate propulsion into the vehicle, and go for altitude.

It’s quite conceivable to me that, due to Burt’s regulatory shenanigans, getting a launch license may end up being the pacing item on his schedule, since it requires at least six months notice, and he only recently decided to apply for one.

Some pictures can be found here.