ARMADILLOS don't often get permission to travel into space.

Last Thursday the US Federal Aviation Administration awarded Armadillo Aerospace of Heath, Texas, a launch licence for its suborbital rocket Stig-B. It is only the third licence issued so far for a reusable launch vehicle. SpaceX's Falcon 9, which famously sent the first private craft to the International Space Station, isn't yet reusable.

The US government is liable for any damages caused by private launches, so applications to reach the high frontier are carefully scrutinised. Founded in 2000, Armadillo has carried out more than 200 test flights at lower altitudes, including sending its Stig-A rocket 95 kilometres up in February. The firm hopes the first Stig-B will launch by the end of August.

The goal for firms such as Armadillo is to develop a low-cost, refuellable rocket that is robust enough to fly repeatedly, like a jet plane. "The licensing of Stig-B shows that such a vehicle is ready to fly and to start making money," says Clark Lindsey of space industry blog HobbySpace.com.

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Armadillo's reusable rocket licensed for launch