VIRGIN Galactic is stepping up efforts to get the green light for its long-awaited space tourism business with a second successful supersonic test of spaceship VSS Unity.
The rocket-powered test flight saw the Unity streak across the sky above the Mojave Desert at Mach 1.9 and a height of 114,500ft.
Unity is taken aloft from Virgin’s New Mexico spaceport by a unique double-hulled aircraft and ignites its rocket after separating from the mothership.
The 31-second rocket burn was designed to understand the spaceship’s supersonic handling characteristics and control system performance at parameters closer to the vehicles ultimate commercial configuration.
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This involved shifting the center of gravity towards the rear through the addition of passenger seats and other related equipment.
The flight also deployed the Unity’s unique feathering system designed to position the spacecraft for the descent. The system involves raising the ship’s unique tail booms to a 60-degree angle during the initial descent and then returning them to the normal position so it can glide to earth.
British billionaire Richard Branson, who was on hand to watch the test, said the company was getting closer to its goal of taking tourists into space.
“Seeing Unity soar upwards at supersonic speeds is inspiring and absolutely breathtaking. We are getting ever closer to realizing our goal,’’ he said.
This is Unity’s second powered flight test this year and progress will be watched closely by more than 700 would-be astronauts who have paid about $US250,000 to head to the edge of space.
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The powered flight in April was the first Virgin Galactic had attempted since a fatal accident in 2014 in which the feathering system deployed prematurely. The company has introduced new safety mechanisms since the loss of the VSS Enterprise.
Branson is in a race with fellow billionaire and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to launch space tourism through his Blue Origin project.
Blue Origin on April 29 launched its capsule capable of carrying passengers to a height of 322, 405 ft and hopes to be sending tourist into space on its New Shepard rocket this year.
Branson has also expressed optimism that Virgin Galactic will be carrying passengers into space within 12 months and hopes to go into space himself by the end of the year.
“The pathway that Unity is forging is one that many thousands of us will take over time, and will help share a perspective that is crucial to solving some of humanity’s toughest challenges on planet Earth,” he said.
Engineers will now pore over the data collected during the flight and a second test could be scheduled within six weeks if that goes well.
Branson also toured the facilities of The Spaceship Company, which manufacturers Virgin Galactic’s space vehicles. To see rocket motors and the next two craft on the production line.
