Spaceport America in New Mexico announced today a successful launch of a test flight vehicle under development by Lockheed Martin. The test shot was a non-public, unannounced event that took place early this morning - making use of a winged vehicle to evaluate proprietary advanced launch technologies.

Lockheed Martin and UP Aerospace teamed to carry out the hush-hush shot, similar to a flight that was first flown from the site last December.

To take a read on that test flight last year, go to:

http://www.space.com/businesstechnology/080424-lockheed-spaceplane-test.html

Meanwhile, the New Mexico Spaceport Authority currently projects that licensed vertical launches can begin in the first quarter of 2009…and that the terminal and hangar facility for horizontal launches should be completed by 2010.

Spaceport America is billed as the nation’s first purpose-built commercial space facility, being readied to handle launch traffic from various customers, including Virgin Galactic and its suborbital spaceliner service for paying passengers.