Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Soars on 2nd Rocket-Powered Flight (Photos)

1 of 11

SpaceShipTwo's Rocket Engine in Flight

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo completed its second powered flight on Sept. 5, 2013 over California's Mojave Desert. This image was taken by MARS Scientific as part of the Mobile Aerospace Reconnaissance System optical tracking system. [Read the Full Story Here]

2 of 11

SpaceShipTwo Lights its Engine in 2nd Rocket-Powered Flight

Credit: Kenneth Brown/Aerospace Photography

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo rises into the sky under rocket power on Sept. 5, 2013. At right is WhiteKnightTwo, the private space plane's mothership, which carried it into the sky. [Read the Full Story Here]

3 of 11

SpaceShipTwo Soars Skyward on Second Rocket-Powered Flight Test

Credit: Kenneth Brown/Aerospace Photography

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo is carried aloft by its mothership, WhiteKnightTwo, on Sept. 5, 2013, for the private space plane's second-ever rocket-powered flight test. [Read the Full Story Here]

4 of 11

SpaceShipTwo 2nd Powered Flight Test: Take Off

Credit: Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo spaceliner and its carrier aircraft WhiteKnightTwo take off for the spacecraft's second rocket-powered flight test on Sept. 5, 2013. The flight was based out of the Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, Calif. [Read the Full Story Here]

5 of 11

How Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Passenger Space Plane Works (Infographic)

Credit: Karl Tate, SPACE.com contributor

SpaceShipTwo will carry six passengers up past 328,000 feet altitude (100 kilometers), the point where astronaut wings are awarded. See how Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo works in this SPACE.com infographic.

[Read the Full Story of the 2nd Powered Test Flight Here]

6 of 11

SpaceShipTwo Soars Skyward on Second Rocket-Powered Flight Test

Credit: Kenneth Brown/Aerospace Photography

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo is carried aloft by its mothership, WhiteKnightTwo, on Sept. 5, 2013, for the private space plane's second-ever rocket-powered flight test. [Read the Full Story Here]

7 of 11