Private rocket plane successfully punches into space
MOJAVE, Calif., June 21 (Reuters) - SpaceShipOne
successfully punched beyond the earth's atmosphere on Monday in the world's first attempt at manned commercial space flight.
The privately funded rocket plane was released from a
larger plane called the White Knight and ignited its rocket
engine to enter space 62 miles (100 km) above the earth.
The distinctive white rocket plane took off from a runway
in the Mojave Desert in California, about 100 miles north of
Los Angeles, and was expected to land back there.