Space Ship II, White Knight II - projects, flights, info

[Flyaway]

Preparation is underway for a rocket-powered test flight of SpaceShipTwo Unity from Spaceport America, New Mexico. The flight window will open on Feb 13th with opportunities to fly throughout the month, pending weather conditions and technical readiness. https://t.co/hy18Tg6gkf pic.twitter.com/tiAqJvLkyy

— Virgin Galactic (@virgingalactic) February 1, 2021

View: https://twitter.com/virgingalactic/status/1356200406586716167

Preparation is underway for a rocket-powered test flight of SpaceShipTwo Unity from Spaceport America, New Mexico. The flight window will open on Feb 13th with opportunities to fly throughout the month, pending weather conditions and technical readiness.

Home | Virgin Galactic

www.virgingalactic.com

 

[Flyaway]

But when the ground crew wheeled the suborbital spacecraft back into the hangar, company officials discovered that a seal running along a stabilizer on the wing designed to keep the space plane flying straight had come undone — a potentially serious safety hazard.
“The structural integrity of the entire stabilizer was compromised,” Todd Ericson, a test pilot who also served as a vice president for safety and test, said, according to a soon-to-be-published book. “I don’t know how we didn’t lose the vehicle and kill three people.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2021/02/01/richard-branson-virgin-galactic-test-book/

 

[Flyaway]

SpaceShipTwo Unity is mated to our mothership, VMS Eve, as preparations continue for the opening of our flight test window this week. Thanks to Space Wrench, Tramain Coleman, for explaining the process. pic.twitter.com/VDfg1ehdD9

— Virgin Galactic (@virgingalactic) February 11, 2021

View: https://twitter.com/virgingalactic/status/1359924056963895296

SpaceShipTwo Unity is mated to our mothership, VMS Eve, as preparations continue for the opening of our flight test window this week. Thanks to Space Wrench, Tramain Coleman, for explaining the process.

The team has loaded three payloads from the @NASA Flight Opportunities Program into SpaceShipTwo Unity’s cabin ahead of our flight-test window opening this week. pic.twitter.com/eXY35O4Evx

— Virgin Galactic (@virgingalactic) February 11, 2021

View: https://twitter.com/virgingalactic/status/1359988860885819398

The team has loaded three payloads from the @NASA Flight Opportunities Program into SpaceShipTwo Unity’s cabin ahead of our flight-test window opening this week.

Flight test update: We have been progressing through our pre-flight preparations and, during that process, we have decided to allow more time for technical checks. We are working to identify the next flight opportunity. pic.twitter.com/DN58qbOoE0

— Virgin Galactic (@virgingalactic) February 12, 2021

View: https://twitter.com/virgingalactic/status/1360193157745491973

Flight test update: We have been progressing through our pre-flight preparations and, during that process, we have decided to allow more time for technical checks. We are working to identify the next flight opportunity.

 

[Flyaway]

Virgin Galactic's investor presentation discloses that the company "identified EMI as the root cause" of the December engine flight abort, with "additional EMI impacts" uncovered during preparations for the Feb. 13 reflight:https://t.co/1lDo210g0u $SPCE pic.twitter.com/KlcsVBAiKY

— Michael Sheetz (@thesheetztweetz) February 25, 2021

View: https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/status/1365049503309582336

Virgin Galactic's investor presentation discloses that the company "identified EMI as the root cause" of the December engine flight abort, with "additional EMI impacts" uncovered during preparations for the Feb. 13 reflight:

Virgin Galactic $SPCE president Mike Moses says a new flight control system had "higher EMI levels present," which potentially could have triggered another flight abort like the one in December.

("EMI" = "electromagnetic interference") https://t.co/J12qTadUmk

— Michael Sheetz (@thesheetztweetz) February 25, 2021

View: https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/status/1365062017766334464

Virgin Galactic $SPCE president Mike Moses says a new flight control system had "higher EMI levels present," which potentially could have triggered another flight abort like the one in December.

("EMI" = "electromagnetic interference")

 

[Flyaway]

Virgin Galactic will roll out the next spacecraft in its fleet, and the first of the SpaceShip III generation, on March 30:https://t.co/1lDo210g0u $SPCE pic.twitter.com/ge919i15AS

— Michael Sheetz (@thesheetztweetz) February 25, 2021

View: https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/status/1365053589115330562

Virgin Galactic will roll out the next spacecraft in its fleet, and the first of the SpaceShip III generation, on March 30:
cnbc.com/2021/02/25/vir… $SPCE

The first SpaceShip III flight test is scheduled for this summer.

— Michael Sheetz (@thesheetztweetz) February 25, 2021

View: https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/status/1365054292701380608

The first SpaceShip III flight test is scheduled for this summer.

 

[Flyaway]

The new 2021 roadmap for Virgin Galactic: $SPCE

– rollout first SS3
– Unity spaceflight test in May
– 2nd Unity test with 4 passengers
– 3rd Unity test with Branson
– 4th Unity test with Italian Air Force
– Four month downtime of Eve, Unity, SS3https://t.co/eKiV1txbcZ

— Michael Sheetz (@thesheetztweetz) February 26, 2021

View: https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/status/1365359006366261255

The new 2021 roadmap for Virgin Galactic: $SPCE

– rollout first SS3
– Unity spaceflight test in May
– 2nd Unity test with 4 passengers
– 3rd Unity test with Branson
– 4th Unity test with Italian Air Force
– Four month downtime of Eve, Unity, SS3

 

[Grey Havoc]

Richard Branson’s Space Tourism Dream Meets Rejection From Virgin Partner

Virgin Galactic’s flight schedule is pushed back to 2022 due to a recent test failure.

observer.com

 

[Flyaway]

Virgin Galactic unveils the first SpaceShip III:

View: https://youtu.be/Ox-mAh6x5mE

 

[Flyaway]

SpaceShipIII Imagine in all its glory 🚀 pic.twitter.com/9pMfewppAD

— Virgin Galactic (@virgingalactic) April 5, 2021

View: https://twitter.com/virgingalactic/status/1379162613465120769

SpaceShipIII Imagine in all its glory

 

[Grey Havoc]

All aboard! Next stop space...

Several hundred people have already booked their tickets and begun training for a spectacular voyage: a few minutes, or perhaps days, in the weightlessness of space.

news.yahoo.com

 

[disco1ball]

Successful test flight today:

Virgin Galactic spaceplane VSS Unity completes successful flight

It also carried research payloads for NASA’s Flight Opportunities program

www.theverge.com

Here's hoping the post flight inspections come back clean and the data good.

 

[bob225]

Virgin Galactic rocket plane flies to edge of space

Sir Richard Branson's spaceplane completes the first of three key test flights above New Mexico.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Archibald]

Virgin Galactic rocket plane flies to edge of space

Sir Richard Branson's spaceplane completes the first of three key test flights above New Mexico.

www.bbc.co.uk

At least - and this time it didn't fell apart. Fingers crossed for the next two flights !

 

[Flyaway]

View: https://youtu.be/9hQlDkxuLgk

 

[Flyaway]

SpaceShipTwo makes first flight to space from New Mexico

Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo made its first flight to space in more than two years May 22, completing the first in a series of four suborbital flights planned by the company over the next several…

spacenews.com

 

[steelpillow]

American "space" maybe, but the internationally-recognised Karman line, no.

 

[Flyaway]

View: https://youtu.be/cvYuoizXQOs

 

[Flyaway]

American "space" maybe, but the internationally-recognised Karman line, no.

I wouldn’t expect that to remain the case as I believe there are plans to redefine it.

 

[Flyaway]

Looks like Mr Branson aims to beat Mr Bezos to space.

Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson Aims to Fly to Space Before Jeff Bezos https://t.co/SfrXXkOpNL

— Parabolic Arc (@spacecom) June 8, 2021

View: https://twitter.com/spacecom/status/1402252585273237512

Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson Aims to Fly to Space Before Jeff Bezos

Virgin Galactic's Richard Branson Aims to Fly to Space Before Jeff Bezos

Fourth of July weekend could include some extra fireworks this year. Updated with statement from Virgin Galactic on June 8, 2021 at 10:53 a.m. PDT. by Douglas MessierManaging Editor It looks like Richard Branson could beat fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos to space next month. Virgin Galactic is...

www.parabolicarc.com

The flight is contingent upon obtaining an operator’s license from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

 

[Flyaway]

Virgin Galactic has said all along that it will not fly until it is ready. Moreover, the plan HAD been to fly Virgin employees during the next mission, with the Sir Richard flight to follow after that. So ... interesting.

— Eric Berger (@SciGuySpace) June 8, 2021

View: https://twitter.com/sciguyspace/status/1402257120133849093

Virgin Galactic has said all along that it will not fly until it is ready. Moreover, the plan HAD been to fly Virgin employees during the next mission, with the Sir Richard flight to follow after that. So ... interesting.

Statement from Virgin Galactic on speculation that Richard Branson is aiming to fly his company's suborbital vehicle before Jeff Bezos boards Blue Origin's New Shepard on July 20th: pic.twitter.com/ETn5BJIYZY

— Joey Roulette (@joroulette) June 8, 2021

View: https://twitter.com/joroulette/status/1402299438366875648

Statement from Virgin Galactic on speculation that Richard Branson is aiming to fly his company's suborbital vehicle before Jeff Bezos boards Blue Origin's New Shepard on July 20th:

 

[Archibald]

Does Branson has a brother ?

I don't like this very much... for Branson. New Shepard is a sane and robust vehicle, SS2... not so sure.

Hopefully he won't end killing himself in a stunt.

And meanwhile, Musk is laughing his a$$ off... "I did that ! I kicked a Branson vs Bezos race for suborbital flight... with my ORBITAL vehicle. Muhahahaha !"

 

[Michel Van]

if this rumor is true
Richard Branson want to be launch in Star Ship Two on July 4 ( Bezos & co will be launch on 10 July )

Richard Branson Is Reportedly Racing to Go to Space Before Jeff Bezos

So what about Elon?

futurism.com

 

[Flyaway]

if this rumor is true
Richard Branson want to be launch in Star Ship Two on July 4 ( Bezos & co will be launch on 10 July )

Richard Branson Is Reportedly Racing to Go to Space Before Jeff Bezos

So what about Elon?

futurism.com

Look at the post a couple above this which looks like something of a denial of thus rumour.

 

[steelpillow]

Licensed to space out...

Sir Richard Branson gains licence for commercial spaceflights

The US Federal Aviation Administration says Sir Richard's rocket plane can carry paying customers.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Flyaway]

Next manned flight on 11th July including Astronaut 001 Richard Branson.

View: https://youtu.be/bRBS5-PxNkM

 

[Flyaway]

For the first time, Virgin Galactic will share a global livestream of the spaceflight. Head over to @VirginGalactic to join us as we welcome the next era of space travel https://t.co/x0ksfnuEQ3 #Unity22 pic.twitter.com/hHxLikFHb6

— Richard Branson (@richardbranson) July 2, 2021

View: https://twitter.com/richardbranson/status/1410766432674189312

For the first time, Virgin Galactic will share a global livestream of the spaceflight. Head over to @VirginGalactic to join us as we welcome the next era of space travel virg.in/4wiq #Unity22

 

[Flyaway]

View: https://youtu.be/RTpWYWIfP7Y


Livestream currently scheduled to start 13:00 UTC on Sunday

 

[Flyaway]

Congrats to @virgingalactic on launching @richardbranson into space. Someone had to do it. (I assume my invitation went straight to my spam folder?)

— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) July 8, 2021

View: https://twitter.com/stephenathome/status/1413133741225123840

Congrats to @virgingalactic on launching @richardbranson into space. Someone had to do it. (I assume my invitation went straight to my spam folder?)

Sorry you can’t join us this time, but we’re going to livestream the launch on Sunday, and I’d be honoured if you’d host that for us! #Unity22

— Richard Branson (@richardbranson) July 8, 2021

View: https://twitter.com/richardbranson/status/1413134378973077510

Sorry you can’t join us this time, but we’re going to livestream the launch on Sunday, and I’d be honoured if you’d host that for us! #Unity22

I’m in! BLAST OFF! #Unity22 pic.twitter.com/v2nXFLe7PA

— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) July 8, 2021

View: https://twitter.com/stephenathome/status/1413136915977494535

I’m in! BLAST OFF! #Unity22

 

[Flyaway]

Richard Branson’s son Sam shares a look at Virgin Galactic this morning preparing spacecraft VSS Unity and carrier aircraft VMS Eve at @Spaceport_NM: $SPCE pic.twitter.com/zRs75z8VXO

— Michael Sheetz (@thesheetztweetz) July 8, 2021

View: https://twitter.com/thesheetztweetz/status/1413200959749206021

Richard Branson’s son Sam shares a look at Virgin Galactic this morning preparing spacecraft VSS Unity and carrier aircraft VMS Eve at @Spaceport_NM: $SPCE

3 days until #Unity22! Come inside the hangar for pre-flight preparations as our spaceship VSS Unity joins forces with our mothership VMS Eve. Watch the launch live this Sunday at 6 am PT | 9 am ET | 2 pm BST. https://t.co/WEBNyUYpRQ pic.twitter.com/xakebHTN5T

— Virgin Galactic (@virgingalactic) July 8, 2021

View: https://twitter.com/virgingalactic/status/1413208378722066435

3 days until #Unity22! Come inside the hangar for pre-flight preparations as our spaceship VSS Unity joins forces with our mothership VMS Eve. Watch the launch live this Sunday at 6 am PT | 9 am ET | 2 pm BST. virgingalactic.com

Khalid has announced that he will be performing a brand new song, "New Normal," for the Virgin Galactic Spaceflight launch this Sunday https://t.co/RKiGYqbQ9x

— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) July 9, 2021

View: https://twitter.com/rollingstone/status/1413467995901415426

Khalid has announced that he will be performing a brand new song, "New Normal," for the Virgin Galactic Spaceflight launch this Sunday

 

[Grey Havoc]

Billionaire Branson set to fly to space aboard Virgin Galactic rocket plane

Decades after burnishing his reputation as a wealthy daredevil mogul in a series of boating and hot-air balloon expeditions, Richard Branson is poised to promote his burgeoning astro-tourism venture by launching himself to the final frontier.

www.reuters.com

 

[Flyaway]

🚀 This Sunday, July 11, @VirginGalactic will attempt its first fully crewed spaceflight, #Unity22! @NASA_Technology will also be catching a ride to suborbital space. Get to know the science on board: https://t.co/9p6FStEazX pic.twitter.com/or3ClqAog8

— NASA (@NASA) July 9, 2021

View: https://twitter.com/nasa/status/1413622747381522433

This Sunday, July 11, @VirginGalactic will attempt its first fully crewed spaceflight, #Unity22! @NASA_Technology will also be catching a ride to suborbital space. Get to know the science on board: https://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstr...hiptwo-carries-nasa-supported-experiment.html

 

[Flyaway]

View: https://youtu.be/ABK08m9hWF8

 

[Flyaway]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1413926023817744384

View: https://twitter.com/thejackbeyer/status/1413926023817744384

VSS Unity and VMS White Knight Two were outside at @Spaceport_NM this morning before being moved back inside the hangar. @virgingalactic @NASASpaceflight

 

[TomcatViP]

I am so fed-up to hear about the billionaire thing...

RB took on him to be the test passenger and this point should be the one that makes the news. It's not everyday that you'll see in the aerospace a project founder brave enough to play the lab rat. It is obvious if you'd followed him that he worked hard for this mission training himself with a long physical preparation.

Also, noteworthy, and of a more important aspect, is that the FAA granted approval for the first commercial gliding flight ever with a seating jaw dropping capacity when compared to other vehicles of the same type around (none commercial). That this glider can go to the edge of space is just as impressive.

I see this lack of enthusiasm to report on something truly out of the ordinary as the general failure of aerospace report in the general press, taken over by lobbyists (think MAX).

If you happen to be a non-specialist journalist reading those lines that is honest enough with his lack of knowledge in the domain, see it as if you were in Kabul in October 2001 filming topics only on the folkloric outfits and strange custom of the people down there...

 

[Grey Havoc]

US town eyes tourism boost after Branson's Virgin Galactic launch

Truth or Consequences has seen visitor numbers dry up with its drought. Now it hopes for a lifeline from the space tourism industry

news.trust.org

 

[Flyaway]

Mr Musk has purchased a ticket for SS2.

Elon Musk buys ticket for future flight on Sir Richard Branson's spacecraft

It comes as Sir Richard prepares to take part in Virgin Galactic's first fully-crewed flight to the edge of space today

inews.co.uk

 

[Archibald]

Mr Musk has purchased a ticket for SS2.

Elon Musk buys ticket for future flight on Sir Richard Branson's spacecraft

It comes as Sir Richard prepares to take part in Virgin Galactic's first fully-crewed flight to the edge of space today

inews.co.uk

Wow. That "billionaire race into space" become weirder and weirder with every single day that passes.

I wonder why Musk didn't bought a seat on New Sheppard ?

 

[TomcatViP]

View: https://youtu.be/RTpWYWIfP7Y


Livestream currently scheduled to start 13:00 UTC on Sunday

In case you guys are looking for the livestream, it's there (thanks @Flyaway )

 

[Michel Van]

It's online

with Steven Colbert as Host of the videostream

 

[Flyaway]

WhiteKnightTwo 'Eve' is passing 35,000ft with SpaceShipTwo 'Unity'. Follow the flight at both the webcast above and on Flightradar24 at https://t.co/K0PTZXgp58

— Space TFRs (@SpaceTfrs) July 11, 2021

View: https://twitter.com/spacetfrs/status/1414236719650459655

WhiteKnightTwo 'Eve' is passing 35,000ft with SpaceShipTwo 'Unity'. Follow the flight at both the webcast above and on Flightradar24 at flightradar24.com/VGX01/285e221f