Virgin Galactic Advances Towards Commercial Spaceflights
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Chapter 1: The Journey of Virgin Galactic
Virgin Galactic is steadily progressing towards the realization of its commercial spaceflight ambitions. The company has recently conducted another test flight with its rocket-powered spaceplane, achieving a new record altitude of 55.87 miles (89.8 kilometers). With this momentum, founder Richard Branson has expressed hope that he will be able to travel into space to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing this summer.
The flight procedure begins with a standard airplane-style takeoff from the Mojave Air & Space Port, located north of Los Angeles. During this phase of the test, Virgin’s SpaceShipTwo is attached to a carrier jet named WhiteKnightTwo. This dual-fuselage aircraft elevates the spaceplane, although it cannot reach the edge of space. Around noon local time on February 22, SpaceShipTwo (also referred to as VSS Unity) detached from WhiteKnightTwo and ignited its engine.
At the helm of this flight were pilot Dave Mackay and co-pilot Mike Masucci, with Virgin’s chief astronaut instructor Beth Moses also onboard. Her purpose was to experience the cabin environment in preparation for future passengers. For this test, the rocket was configured for an extended engine burn akin to what will be required for passenger flights. Watch the impressive video showcasing the rocket motor ignition:
Section 1.1: Incremental Achievements
This flight signifies the fifth occasion on which Virgin Galactic has operated VSS Unity with its rocket engine. Each flight has successfully reached a higher altitude: starting from 16 miles, progressing to 21.7 miles, then 32.3 miles, followed by 51.4 miles in December, and now culminating at 55.87 miles. This flight set a new record for the company, along with a peak speed of Mach 3.04 (2,332 miles per hour).
Subsection 1.1.1: Defining "Space"
Determining whether this flight qualifies as "space" varies based on definitions. The U.S. Air Force designates anything above 50 miles as space, awarding astronaut wings to pilots who reach this threshold. Conversely, many adhere to the Karman Line, which is established at 62 miles (100 km). The Federal Aviation Administration granted commercial astronaut wings to the pilots of Virgin’s previous flight.
Section 1.2: Future Aspirations
The ultimate objective is to transport passengers on a suborbital journey to the boundary of space. Although the flight duration will be brief, Virgin Galactic promises several minutes of weightlessness before descending for landing. The ticket price is set at $250,000 per seat, with the company indicating that bookings are full through 2021. In contrast, Elon Musk anticipates being able to take passengers to Mars for approximately double that cost.
Chapter 2: Insights on Virgin Galactic's Progress
In this video, we explore the scientific perspective on Virgin Galactic's recent flights and why some experts believe the pilots have yet to fully reach space.