Posted by Raimondo Pictet | 0 comments
SpaceShipTwo takes off
Virgin Galactic announced yesterday that VSS Enterprise successfully made its maiden (atmospheric) flight, carried by its mothership “Eve”.
VSS Enterprise is the first SpaceShipTwo to have been built by Scaled Composites. It was unveiled in December, and will be the first commercial spacecraft to send “tourists” into space.
Scaled Composites’ prime aerospace designer Burt Rutan commented: “This is a momentous day for the Scaled and Virgin Teams. The captive carry flight signifies the start of what we believe will be extremely exciting and successful spaceship flight test program.”
Richard Branson, founder and chariman of Virgin group and founder of Virgin Galactic, said that “seeing the finished spaceship in December was a major day for us but watching VSS Enterprise fly for the first time really brings home what beautiful, ground-breaking vehicles Burt and his team have developed for us. It comes as no surprise that the flight went so well; the Scaled team is uniquely qualified to bring this important and incredible dream to reality. Today was another major step along that road and a testament to US engineering and innovation.”
Next steps will be independent glides and landings, then self powered flights. If everything continues to go well, first passengers will embark sometime next year.
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Source: virgingalactic.com
Image © Virgin Galactic
