Burt Rutan to Air Drop X-37

WhiteKnight to launch X-37 test flights, Desert News

“WhiteKnight, the unique aircraft developed by Mojave’s Scaled Composites to launch the company’s SpaceShipOne space craft, will have a new job early next year,the DesertNews learned this week.” … “Braukus had no further information on the decision to have the Scaled aircraft launch the X-37, saying that management of the project has been taken over by an agency he said he could not identify.”

Editor’s note: When asked by NASA Watch today (13 Sep) if he could elaborate on who the new sponsor of X-37 research is, NASA spokesman Mike Braukus said: “the new government partner is classified. We will acknowledge the government partner when the partner gives us permission.”

Editor’s note: In an additional email Tuesday morning, Mike Braukus commented: “I read an article this morning from Bill Deaver of the Desert News claiming that I said that Rutan’s White Knight will be used — if you plan to use that article it’s inaccurate. I told Mr. Deaver that I didn’t know what aircraft Scaled Composites planned to use to drop the X-37 and that he should contact them for that information.”

Editor’s note:Mike Braukus subsequently confirmed to NASA Watch that the X-37 program had been transfered to DARPA.