Space

Virgin Galactic steps up the pace with latest SpaceShipTwo glide flight test

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VSS Enterprise glides to earth on its latest successful glide flight test (Photo: Chris Van Pelt)
VSS Enterprise glides to earth on its latest successful glide flight test (Photo: Chris Van Pelt)
WhiteKnightTwo (VMS Eve) after releasing the VSS Enterprise (Photo: Chris Van Pelt)
VSS Enterprise in the skies over Mojave, California (Photo: Chris Van Pelt)
The June 26 glide flight test of VSS Enterprise (Photo: Chris Van Pelt)
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Virgin Galactic’s suborbital, air-launched spaceplane, SpaceShipTwo (SS2), aka VSS Enterprise, is back in the air after a break of nearly nine months following a recent integration period for rocket motor systems and maintenance. The June 26 flight coincided with another successful full duration test fire of the spaceship’s engine RocketMotorTwo (RM2) on the same day. The tests mark an intensification of activity that sees Virgin Galactic aiming for powered flights by the end of the year.

SS2’s 11 minute 22 second glide flight test, the seventeenth for the spacecraft, saw it air-released from WhiteKnightTwo (WK2) at an altitude of 51,000 feet with Scaled Composites pilots Pete Siebold and Mike Alsbury at the controls. Virgin Galactic’s Chief Pilot David Mackay and Scaled test pilot Mark Stuckey were carried in WK2, while Virgin Galactic pilot and Mike Melvill, who piloted the first private flight to space, flew in the chase plane.

Meanwhile, at Scaled Composites’ test site in Majave, California, a 55-second rocket motor firing test marked the thirteenth full-scale flight design RM2 hot fire. This was followed on June 20 by the first full-scale RM2 test firing at the test site under full direction of the spaceship’s Rocket Motor Controller, providing an end-to-end test of the rocket motor system.

“Since receiving an experimental launch permit from the Federal Aviation Administration in May for SpaceShipTwo and its carrier vehicle, WhiteKnightTwo, there has been a rapid escalation of test activity,” said George Whitesides, CEO and president of Virgin Galactic. “In that timeframe, we’ve had seven successful test flights and three full-scale rocket motor tests. We are on track for powered flight by the end of 2012.”

We can expect more news on Virgin Galactic’s progress at the Farnborough Air Show 2012, which kicks off on July 9, where company founder Sir Richard Branson will deliver a special briefing along with other executives from Virgin Galactic and its sister manufacturing organization, The Spaceship Company.

Source: Virgin Galactic

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1 comment
Tyrone Curry
Simply awesome to see American ingenuity. I was present at the historical 2nd flight and met Burt , Richard, Brian and the support crew. These guys have big plans and to hear Burt speak of how he will make space travel 100x safer then any NASA rocket / shuttle, was just amazing. I only wish my bucket list could be made shorter with a flight aboard VGVSSE. As an USAF Vet, flight has always been a passion but to get to space even if it is only the very edge....well that is a life goal. Great job Scaled and Virgin. I hope to someday hitch a ride!