Virgin Galactic has done it again, the company recently completed their second successful "rocket-powered, supersonic flight of its passenger carrying reusable space vehicle, SpaceShipTwo (SS2)."
The company, owned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Abu Dhabi's aabar Investments PJS, is the world's first commercial spaceline, a Virgin Galactic press release reported.
In their second test drive yesterday they "demonstrated the vehicle's full technical mission profile in a single flight for the first time," they also achieved their highest altitude and most impressive speed yet.
"We couldn't be more delighted to have another major supersonic milestone under our belts as we move toward a 2014 start of commercial service," Sir Richard Branson, said. "It was particularly thrilling to see for the first time today the whole elegant system in action during a single flight, including the remarkable feathering re-entry system. It was this safety feature more than anything else that originally persuaded us that the overall design of the system was uniquely fit for purpose. Everything we have seen today just confirms that view. Congratulations to all involved!"
Pilots propelled the spaceship to a height of 69,000 feet by igniting the rocket motor for a pre-meditated 20-second burn.
"Today, we expanded the SpaceShipTwo rocket-powered flight test envelope with a longer burn duration and robust testing of the feather mechanism, supersonic aerodynamics and wing lift structure," Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides, said. "Each powered flight of SpaceShipTwo yields cumulative progress that builds the foundation for safe and exciting commercial space flights."
Virgin Galactic has already received deposits from 630 people adding up to about $80 million who plan to participate in future flights. Some celebrities who will go on the revolutionary trip include: Justin Bieber, Ashton Kutcher, Russel Brand , Katy Perry, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Kate Winslet, Leonardo Decaprio, and Lance Bass, the New York Daily News reported. Stephen Hawking also received an honorary ticket to the flight.
The trips will allow "out-of-the-seat, zero-gravity experience with astounding views of the planet from the black sky of space for tourist astronauts and a unique microgravity platform for researchers," the press release reported.
