SYSTEMS: Easy to forget that there are others in the industry alongside Virgin Galactic who have designs on building sub-orbital "space craft" to transport tourists around the world. Airbus's project has been slower to get going but a recent test shows the intent is still there. Read more on BBC.
Airbus recently performed a "drop test" for its spaceplane concept to learn more about how a real vehicle might behave as it returned to earth.
The Airbus project has been on a slow burn since being announced in 2007.
If it were ever to go into production, the plane would be aimed at the tourism market, to take passengers on short hops above the atmosphere.
Read more on BBC