The air is full of new factoids here at the Holloman Air & Space Expo/X Prize Cup in New Mexico.

First of all, the Mojave Air and Space Port in California was a hopping place on Thursday. The big news is that the first piloted pump-fed rocket engine since the space shuttle has taken to the air.

Mojave-based XCOR Aerospace has given real oomph to the Rocket Racing League. Under the controls of former astronaut, Rick Searfoss, a rocket racer flew making three progressive hops using XCOR’s liquid oxygen/kerosene engine.

A delighted Granger Whitelaw, co-founder, President and CEO of the League announced the successful test hops at the X Prize Foundation’s Executive Summit. The flights have shown that everything was “tightened up and buttoned down,” he told me.

Now look for long duration flight in the near future. More than 30 shakeout flights are on the books, Whitelaw said, to evaluate everything from the plane’s tires to airframe, engines to and avionics.

Another bit of news is that by agreement with the International Space University, the Isle of Man — in the heart of the British Isles — has made a five-year commitment to establish and host the International Institute of Space Commerce - conceived of as the world’s leading authority on space commerce.

Also, there’s entry of a new “virtual angel investor group” that focuses on seed-and early-stage funding for space ventures. This virtual network of angel investors announced Friday the launch of its operations in the U.S. and Canada. The company’s online platform is designed to connect individual accredited investors to connect with space entrepreneurs for financing their ventures, noted Burton Lee, CEO of Space Angels Investments. Check it out via www.spaceangelsnetwork.com

Meanwhile, John Carmack and his Armadillo Aerospace Team are all thumbs up - ready to let their lunar lander designs roar skyward this weekend. If Armadillo succeeds, they’ll be snagging major prize money from NASA.