Rocket Plane

Last Saturday morning, Lochheed Martin and UP Aerospace teamed to quietly conduct a test flight of the prototype for what was termed a "reusable rocket plane." The flight took place at Spaceport America in New Mexico.

The companies gave out few details of the flight, except to say the test flight was a success and the vehicle was recovered. This was the third flight of a small, winged craft designed to test new technologies and how they work together, and new proceedures for supporting quick launches using fewer support crewmembers. The power source of the craft was not disclosed.

That would seem to suggest at least some Lochheed execs think the energing NewSpace industry is on to something-- and they see Lochheed being the 800-pound gorilla in that new room. For all the competition a giant like Lochheed could give the smaller companies in the industry short term, such a development might be good for everybody in the long term.