During a recent flight, a Virgin Galactic carrier aircraft dropped a positioning pin that aids in the mating process between the mothership and the space plane. The company is investigating the issue, which could delay its upcoming mission.
Virgin Galactic finds pin separated from launch tower of mothership VMS eve, During the post-flight review of the Galaxy 06 mission and subsequent notification to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the company declare this week.
“Galaxy 06 was a safe and successful flight, conducted in accordance with Virgin Galactic’s strict flight procedures and protocols,” the company wrote. “The detached locating pin never had a safety impact on the vehicle or those on board.”
Virgin Galactic launched its latest mission on January 26 from Spaceport America in New Mexico as part of its space tourism flights. The company’s VSS Unity carries four private astronauts, marking the first time Virgin Galactic astronauts are not seeking support aboard the space shuttle. Richard Branson’s space venture launches commercial travel in 2023 The first crew will take off on June 29.Since then, the company has been working to take more private passengers to suborbital altitudes aboard VSS Unite Space plane.
To carry passengers into suborbital space, Virgin Galactic’s VMS eve Carrier-based aircraft takes off carrying VSS Unite Space plane under the wing. The aircraft then releases the spacecraft at an altitude of approximately 44,500 feet (13,500 meters) above the ground. Once released, the spaceplane will fire up its rocket engines and lift off to a maximum altitude of 54.2 miles (87 kilometers).
Pins dropped during the most recent flight were used to align the spacecraft with the mothership as the two vehicles docked on the ground during preflight inspections. The pin helps transfer drag from the spacecraft to the aircraft’s pylon and center wing section once it’s airborne, but once it’s airborne it no longer plays a role. Unite separated from eve. Virgin Galactic noted that the locating pins performed as designed during the mating portion of the flight and only separated after the spacecraft was released from the mothership. The company added that there was no other damage to either of its vehicles.
Virgin Galactic’s upcoming mission “Galaxy O7” is scheduled to take place in the second quarter of 2024. However, the company will confirm the mission date after completing its review of the alignment pins. “We hope to conduct and conclude our internal investigation as quickly as possible,” the company told Gizmodo in an email.
The company has previously delayed the launch of commercial flights due to safety concerns. In July 2021, four crew members and two pilots, including Branson himself Hop aboard a suborbital journey The purpose of the trip was to meet the company’s commercial mission.Instead, the flight prompted an FAA investigation and reports that Space plane veers off course during ascent.
The latest anomaly comes at a critical time for Virgin Galactic as the company prepares Ushering in the new Delta-class space plane. Unite One or two more flights are expected before being intentionally grounded in mid-2024, as the company hopes to launch its more profitable aircraft designed to fly once or twice a week. Virgin Galactic is preparing Delta Air Lines for test flights in 2025 and commercial flights in 2026. It’s unclear how the latest anomaly will affect Virgin Galactic’s future plans.
This story has been updated to include emailed comment from Virgin Galactic.
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