Rutan and Branson make a giant leap for space tourism

By John Johnson Jr., Los Angeles Times, December 8, 2009

Reporting from Mojave— On a wind-tossed desert night, the dream of space pioneers Richard Branson and Burt Rutan to bring space flight to everyone — at least everyone who can afford it — drew closer to reality when the pair unveiled the world’s first commercial passenger spacecraft.

To the strings of an ethereal soundtrack, as dreamlike purple lights played across the runway, the VSS Enterprise rolled into view at the Mojave Air and Space Port, about 95 miles north of downtown Los Angeles.

Despite the bracing wind-chill factor, hundreds of people who had flown in from around the world to view the craft burst into cheers and applause.

“Isn’t that the sexiest spaceship ever?” shouted shaggy-haired British billionaire Branson.

Story at the Los Angeles Times