On May 8 an 8ft (2.4m) long model of
Bristol Spaceplanes' "
Ascender" spaceplane performed its first test flights, flying at upwards of 80 kph (50 mph). The model is being used to study the low-speed handling of the full-scale "
Ascender" which is the size of a business jet, and will carry 4 people to space and back.