February 2010 update on SS2 test flight program NewSpace Journal has a Feb 19th item with an update on the flight test program Here is the link Here is the relevant bit Stephen Attenborough provided considerable details about their plans to flight test SpaceShipTwo SS2 Ground testing will continue until the end of this quarter he said The first captive carry flight with WhiteKnightTwo WK2 carrying SS2 aloft but not releasing it should take place by the end of this quarter The second quarter of 2010 will be for captive carry tests flights The first drop test will be some time in the third quarter That initial drop test he said will be a pretty interesting moment for all of us on the ground and a pretty interesting moment for the pilot as well Attenborough said he hoped first powered test flight of SS2 would take place by the end of this year There would be a lot of powered test flights in 2011 he said His best case scenario for beginning commercial operations would be the end of 2011 or the beginning of 2012 adding it would be entirely depending on the progress made during the test flights We can t cut corners on the test program he noted Not much to mine for the article but it is good to have an update two months after the big December S unveiling shindig