- Up, up…but not quite away! SpaceShipTwo captive-carry test includes first onboard crew. Credit: Virgin Galactic
The scene at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California was one of thumbs up and all smiles.
For the first time with a crew on board, the SpaceShipTwo was carried aloft underneath its mothership, the WhiteKnightTwo – dubbed VMS Eve.
This July 15 flight signaled a step closer to the first solo flights of the SpaceShipTwo. Those drop tests that will help engineers better evaluate the suborbital craft’s flight characteristics.
The WhiteKnightTwo/SpaceShipTwo launch system is under development for Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic spaceliner company.
When certified to carry tourists to the edge of space, the SpaceShipTwo will fly six passengers and two pilots.
According to a press statement from Virgin Galactic: “As planned, the spaceship remained attached to VMS Eve (captive) for the duration of the flight and numerous combined vehicle systems tests were conducted.”
In addition and for the first time, the two crew members on board SpaceShipTwo – named the VSS Enterprise — evaluated all of the spaceship’s systems and functions from end to end in the air.
The combination aircraft/spaceship flew together for a little over 6 hours.
By Leonard David