SpaceShipTwo
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Virgin Galactic delays its first commercial research space flight to mid-October
Virgin Galactic will have to delay its first commercial research flight to mid-October over a possible defect.
Jon Fingas09.11.2021
FAA grounds Virgin Galactic space flights during anomaly investigation (updated)
The FAA has grounded Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo while the agency investigates an 'anomaly' that saw the spacecraft deviate from its cleared path.
Jon Fingas09.02.2021
Virgin Galactic and Richard Branson complete first fully crewed spaceflight
Virgin Galactic has completed its first fully crewed spaceflight, with Richard Branson aboard.
Jon Fingas07.11.2021
Virgin Galactic receives FAA approval to take passengers into space
Virgin Galactic has received clearance to fly tourists to space after the FAA updated its operator license.
Saqib Shah06.25.2021
Virgin Galactic completes rocket-powered test flight after months of delays
Virgin Galactic has completed a rocket-powered test flight after months-long delays due to a computer glitch.
Jon Fingas05.22.2021
Virgin Galactic delays space tourism flights to early 2022
Virgin Galactic has delayed its first space tourism flights to early 2022 as further delays creep into its test program.
Jon Fingas02.26.2021
Virgin Galactic delays its next rocket-powered test flight
Virgin Galactic has delayed its latest rocket-powered SpaceShipTwo test flight to make extra 'technical checks.'
Jon Fingas02.12.2021
Virgin Galactic plans next rocket-powered test flight for February 13th
Virgin Galactic is taking its next shot at a rocket-powered flight test on February 13th, with hopes it fixed the motor failure from December.
Jon Fingas02.01.2021
Virgin Galactic's latest SpaceShipTwo test ends with a rocket motor failure (updated)
Virgin Galactic's first attempt at a rocket-powered flight from Spaceport America has ended in failure after the motor didn't ignite.
Jon Fingas12.12.2020
SpaceShipTwo's next big test flight could happen this weekend
Virgin Galactic is poised to launch its SpaceShipTwo vehicle as early as Saturday on a milestone, powered flight test
Andrew Tarantola12.11.2020
Virgin Galactic prepares for its first spaceflight from Spaceport America
Virgin Galactic has started preparing for its first suborbital spaceflight that’s launching from Spaceport America in New Mexico. Now, Virgin Galactic has confirmed that it is indeed opening its flight planning window for the first of two crewed tests on October 22nd, which means the mission could launch that day or anytime after that. Apparently, the aircraft, which carries the SpaceShipTwo to the skies before dropping it mid-air, has very similar structure and controls to the spacecraft itself.
Mariella Moon10.15.2020
Virgin Galactic's last round of SpaceShipTwo tests begins October 22nd
Virgin Galactic has filed to start the first in a 'final' round of SpaceShipTwo tests on October 22nd, after which it will fly Richard Branson to space.
Jon Fingas09.06.2020
Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo cabin surrounds you with windows
“It's a big moment because although the event may be virtual its significance is starting to open space to everyone is very real,” Virgin founder, Sir Richard Branson, noted during today’s reveal. “Somebody once said to me the Virgin Galactic spaceship was the first one to be built from the inside out,” he continued. Virgin Galactic teamed up with UK design firm, Seymourpowell to develop the vehicle’s interior to develop “an elegant but progressive, experience-focused concept,” according to a Tuesday press release.
Andrew Tarantola07.28.2020
Virgin Galactic will livestream its SpaceShipTwo cabin reveal on July 28th
Virgin Galactic will reveal the SpaceShipTwo's cabin interior on July 28th.
Christine Fisher07.02.2020
Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo completes a second 'glide test'
Virgin Galactic’s repeatedly-delayed plans for commercial spaceflight are drawing closer, after the company completed another glide test at its Spaceport America HQ in New Mexico.
Richard Lawler06.26.2020
Virgin Galactic's spaceship flies from its new home base for the first time
Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo has finally completed a flight from its home spaceport for the first time, edging closer to commercial journeys to space.
Jon Fingas05.01.2020
Virgin Galactic is moving its spaceship and crew to Spaceport America
Virgin Galactic's deal with New Mexico entails moving its commercial spaceflight activities to Spaceport America when its vehicles and operations are ready for primetime. Looks like the company is nearly there, because, Sir Richard Branson and company have decided that it's time. Virgin Galactic has announced that its "program had advanced sufficiently to move the spaceline staff and space vehicles from Mojave, California to [its] commercial operations headquarters at Spaceport America, New Mexico."
Mariella Moon05.11.2019
Virgin Galactic sends its first passenger to the edge of space
Virgin Galactic sent its first test passenger into sub-space today. The company's chief astronaut instructor Beth Moses accompanied two pilots on a flight 55.85 miles above the Earth, just a few miles below the internationally recognized space boundary, 62 miles. This will likely come as good news to the more than 600 people from 58 countries who have paid or put down deposits for suborbital flights with Virgin Galactic -- some of those passengers have been queuing for as many as 14 years.
Christine Fisher02.22.2019
Virgin Galactic donates SpaceShipTwo rocket motor to the Smithsonian
You might see a piece of private spaceflight history on display when you visit Washington, DC in the future. Virgin Galactic has donated SpaceShipTwo's (VSS Unity) historic rocket motor to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. This is the powerplant that took the craft into space for the first time this past December, and represents both "technical achievement" as well as proof of what you can do through "entrepreneurial innovation," according to museum director Ellen Stofan.
Jon Fingas02.10.2019
Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo reaches space for the first time
Virgin Galactic has come a long way since its tragic 2014 crash. The company's SpaceShipTwo has reached space after months of testing, flying to an altitude of 271,268 feet before returning to Earth. The stay was brief (SST fired its rocket for all of a minute), but it was enough to both verify the spacecraft as well as conduct four NASA-backed scientific experiments that studied the effects of microgravity and devices that could handle life support and counteract vibration.
Jon Fingas12.13.2018