Brahmand NewsPrevious Article
Brahmand NewsNext Article

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo passes key flight test


The SpaceShipTwo during its flight on Dec. 19. A Virgin Galactic photo

NEW YORK (PTI): A spaceplane built by Richard Branson's spaceflight company has successfully completed a key flight test that would eventually enable it to carry passengers to space.

After a high-altitude release from the WhiteKnightTwo mothership, SpaceShipTwo was piloted to a smooth runway touchdown, scoring a successful test drop and checking off a number of milestones at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California on Dec. 19.

"Today was a big step closer to first powered flight," said George Whitesides, CEO and president of Virgin Galactic, a spaceliner firm backed by British entrepreneur Branson.

"We had a variety of systems newly installed on the vehicle," Whitesides told SPACE.com.

"The most important were the components of the rocket system, including all the flight-ready tanks and valves. But we also flew with flight-ready thermal protection materials on the leading edges of the vehicle for the first time," he said.

"We still have a bit more work to do before we will be ready to ignite the rocket, including two more glide flights," Whitesides said. "2013 will be a big year," he said.

SpaceShipTwo landed under "crystal clear Mojave dawn skies," veteran Mojave Air and Space Port tarmac watcher Bill Deaver told the website.

"It looked like they tried a new, long, high key pattern of one circuit around the field rather than the former, shorter circuit on landing," Whitesides said.

SpaceShipTwo is a hybrid motor-powered vehicle designed to fly six passengers and two pilots to the edge of space, without making a full orbit of Earth.

Commercial operations of the craft will eventually be carried out at New Mexico's Spaceport America. The price per seat for a SpaceShipTwo space traveler is USD 200,000.

Other Related News

India, China discuss next steps in ties following disengagement process in eastern Ladakh

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi deliberated on the next steps in India-China ties, in the first high-level engagement weeks after militaries of the two sides disengaged from friction points of Demchok and Depsang in eastern Ladakh.S Jaishankar, China, Wang Yi, India, China, Demchok, Depsang, Ladakh, Defence.

BRAHMOS Missile Systems

Headlines

Brahmand World Defence Update 2024

Brahmand World Defence Update

Image Gallery