Thursday, May 25, 2023

SpaceShipTwo Update: Virgin Galactic Achieves a Major Milestone with the UNITY 25 Flight...

VSS Unity's tail-boom is raised into the 'feathered' position as the vehicle prepares for re-entry into Earth's atmosphere...on May 25, 2023.
Virgin Galactic

Earlier today, the VSS Unity soared towards the edge of space for the first time since the Unity 22 mission on July 11, 2021. Aboard the suborbital spacecraft for this morning's test flight were Virgin Galactic astronaut trainer Beth Moses (making her third flight towards the Kármán line on SpaceShipTwo, or SS2) and three fellow passengers: Jamila Gilbert, Christopher Huie and Luke Mays.

Mike Masucci and CJ Sturckow were at the controls on VSS Unity, while Jameel Janjua and Nicola Pecile piloted SS2's mothership, VMS Eve, for Unity 25.

Here are the stats from today's flight:

Take-off Time: 9:15 AM, MDT (8:15 AM, PDT)

Release Altitude: 44,500 feet (13,564 meters)

Apogee: 54.2 miles (87.2 kilometers)

Landing Time: 10:37 AM, MDT (9:37 AM, PDT)

Assuming that the results from today's rocket-powered test above New Mexico look really good, Virgin Galactic will begin commercial spaceline operations next month! The first paying passengers will fly aboard VSS Unity on the Galactic 01 research mission in late June.

Stay tuned!

Three of the Unity 25 crewmembers are visible (Virgin Galactic astronaut trainer Beth Moses is out of frame) as they head towards space after VSS Unity's rocket motor ignites around 44,500 feet (13,564 meters) above New Mexico...on May 25, 2023.
Virgin Galactic

The Unity 25 crewmembers float around inside VSS Unity's cabin during their 54.2-mile (87.2-kilometer) journey towards space...on May 25, 2023.
Virgin Galactic

Posted by Richard Par at 7:11 PM
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