Northrop Grumman Buys Scaled Composites

Northrop Grumman has increased it's share of ownership in Scaled Composites, the legendary company of Burt Rutan, from 40% to 100%.

Northrop and Scaled said the new ownership would not affect Scaled's operations. Maverick aerospace designer Burt Rutan will remain at the helm of Scaled and the management team will remain intact, McClain said.

Both companies said the ownership will also have no effect on Scaled's partnership with Virgin Galactic, a space travel company founded by British entrepreneur Richard Branson that is selling suborbital space rides for $200,000 a piece. Branson has ordered a fleet of commercial suborbital spaceships under development by Scaled.

I'm not sure what the attraction is for Northrop Grumman, except perhaps the prestige of building the first commercial spacecraft. Ideally this means more resources for Burt, but I hope he maintains total control.