Virgin Galactic SpaceShip Two second powered test flight

Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShip Two has completed its second powered test flight. Virgin Galactic reports that the vehicle successfully completed all test objectives, including high-altitude deployment of its unique wing feathering system.

SpaceShip Two and the White Knight Two carrier aircraft took off from the Mojave Air and Space Port at approximately 8 am PDT. White Knight Two carried the spaceship to to an altitude of 46,000 feet prior to release. SpaceShip Two pilots Mark Stucky and Clint Nichols fired the rocket motor for a planned 20-second burn, which propelled the SpaceShip Two to 69,000 feet and Mach 1.43. SpaceShip Two landed back in Mojave at at 9:25 am.

Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides said, “Today, we expanded the SpaceShip Two rocket-powered flight-test envelope with a longer burn duration and robust testing of the feather mechanism, supersonic aerodynamics and wing lift structure. Each powered flight of SpaceShipTwo yields cumulative progress that builds the foundation for safe and exciting commercial space flights.”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqYAQdNWQjQ&w=700]

Written by Astro1 on September 5th, 2013 , Virgin Galactic

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