Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo First Powered Flight
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Credit: Virgin Galactic http://www.virgingalactic.com MOJAVE, Calif. -- Today, Virgin Galactic, the world's first commercial spaceline owned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Abu Dhabi's aabar Investments PJC, completed the first rocket-powered flight of its space vehicle, SpaceShipTwo (SS2). The test, conducted by teams from Scaled Composites (Scaled) and Virgin Galactic, officially marks Virgin Galactic's entrance into the final phase of vehicle testing prior to commercial service from Spaceport America in New Mexico. "The first powered flight of Virgin Spaceship Enterprise was without any doubt, our single most important flight test to date," said Virgin Galactic Founder Sir Richard Branson, who was on the ground in Mojave to witness the occasion. "For the first time, we were able to prove the key components of the system, fully integrated and in flight. Today's supersonic success opens the way for a rapid expansion of the spaceship's powered flight envelope, with a very realistic goal of full space flight by the year's end. We saw history in the making today and I couldn't be more proud of everyone involved." The test began at 7:02 a.m. local time when SS2 took off from Mojave Air and Space Port mated to WhiteKnightTwo (WK2), Virgin Galactic's carrier aircraft. Piloting SS2 were Mark Stucky, pilot, and Mike Alsbury, co-pilot, who are test pilots for Scaled, which built SS2 for Virgin Galactic. At the WK2 controls were Virgin Galactic's Chief Pilot Dave Mackay, assisted by Clint Nichols and Brian Maisler, co-pilot and flight test engineer, respectively, for Scaled. Upon reaching 47,000 feet altitude and approximately 45 minutes into the flight, SS2 was released from WK2. After cross-checking data and verifying stable control, the pilots triggered ignition of the rocket motor, causing the main oxidizer valve to open and igniters to fire within the fuel case. At this point, SS2 was propelled forward and upward to a maximum altitude of 55,000 feet. The entire engine burn lasted 16 seconds, as planned. During this time, SS2 went supersonic, achieving Mach 1.2. "We partnered with Virgin Galactic several years ago with the aspiration to transform and commercialize access to space for the broader public," said His Excellency Khadem Al Qubaisi, Chairman of aabar Investments PJC. "Today's test is another key milestone in realizing that aspiration. Our partnership goes from strength to strength, and is an excellent example of aabar's desire to participate in the development of world class technologies that are commercially viable and strategically important, both for the company, its shareholders, and for Abu Dhabi." The entire rocket-powered flight test lasted just over 10 minutes, culminating in a smooth landing for SS2 in Mojave at approximately 8 a.m. local time. "The rocket motor ignition went as planned, with the expected burn duration, good engine performance and solid vehicle handling qualities throughout," said Virgin Galactic President & CEO George Whitesides. "The successful outcome of this test marks a pivotal point for our program. We will now embark on a handful of similar powered flight tests, and then make our first test flight to space." In the coming months, the Virgin Galactic and Scaled test team will expand the spaceship's powered flight envelope culminating in full space flight, which the companies anticipate will take place before the end of 2013. "I'd like to congratulate the entire team," said President of Scaled Kevin Mickey. "This milestone has been a long time coming and it's only through the hard work of the team and the tremendous support of Virgin Galactic that we have been able to witness this important milestone. We look forward to all our upcoming tests and successes." VIRGIN GALACTIC BREAKS SPEED OF SOUND IN FIRST ROCKET-POWERED FLIGHT OF SPACESHIPTWO Sir Richard Branson witnesses vehicle-proving milestone as company sets year-end goal for spaceflight Video Copyright Virgin Galactic Click to subscribe! http://bit.ly/subAIRBOYD The most viewed aviation channel on YouTube.
Comments
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Wasn't Burt Rutan's SpaceShipOne before this? (And with a lot smaller budget.)
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Guitar player proves rockets can't operate in a vacuum. ie. "space". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfFJImcFx3s
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congrats virgin!
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whens the last of it's line going up , hmmm not much prep yet , I would say it needs a strut myself
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Wow you made a plane, amazing!
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Sorry Virgin..
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" It is going to be tremendously exiting" - Yes, you are right, Branson - tremendously exiting for failing and killing a person in his best age! Who will be the next?
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And ladies and gental men,the spaceship 2 you see in the video is crashed and co-pilot is dead.
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Was it also done with the ''feather'' configuration or just powered? sorry for english
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Horrible design, and a pilot dies as a result of it! Brandon knew not to be on this test flight!
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Given the cost required to get this far, always wondered why the launch aircraft is so unusual in its design, surely they could have converted a retired airliner at much less expense and launch from that?. Would've thought the actual "spacecraft" would be the priority, does anyone know why they chose this delivery system?.
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Goodbye commercial services.
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you know what the problem was the wing on the back of plane
like DA !
your taking a shit plastic plane and your flying up ware its very cold then your shoot heat from engine that go right across the inside of the wing weekend the structure
you lose total control
im surprise the engine didn't tare the wings right off
temperature could be 30 degrees below zero
We would caution that such may not be the case for all applications. .... temperature at which it is beginning to soften and lose its mechanical strength ... verge of losing their structural integrity due to exposure to elevated temperatures)
what you moron should did is run throw a wind tunnel with temperature and inside force pushing out of model
then watch blow up would be cool to watch thowe -
Hmmmmm......
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told you it was garbage !
one good pilot dead -
Rest in pieces
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Cant have a omlette without breaking eggs.
RIP pilots...Respect to your families...Keep building and keep testing..
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