SpaceShipTwo Unity is set to launch from the American Spaceport in New Mexico after resolving previous testing issues.
The SpaceShipTwo Unity spacecraft from Virgin Galactic is scheduled to conduct its third crewed test flight on May 22. This spacecraft is designed to transport people and cargo to suborbital space in a short timeframe. It can carry two pilots and six passengers.
SpaceShipTwo Unity – a spacecraft designed for transporting people and cargo. (Photo: Virgin Galactic).
SpaceShipTwo Unity first reached the edge of space during a test flight in December 2018, and repeated this achievement in February 2019. Both flights launched from Mojave Air and Space Port in southeastern California, near the headquarters of The Spaceship Company, a subsidiary specializing in the production of aircraft and spacecraft for Virgin Galactic.
On the mission scheduled for May 22, the spacecraft is expected to depart from the American Spaceport in New Mexico. If successful, this will be the first crewed flight to space from this state.
SpaceShipTwo Unity previously attempted this test in December last year, also at the American Spaceport. It detached from the mothership VMS Eve at an altitude of about 15,000 meters as planned, but the engine did not ignite properly. Pilots C.J. Sturckow and Dave Mackay opted for an early landing to ensure safety, canceling the test.
After investigation, Virgin Galactic concluded that the issue was caused by electromagnetic interference, which caused the onboard computer to restart right when the engine was ignited. The company has made several modifications to ensure that the incident does not recur. Testing the effectiveness of these changes is also a key goal for the upcoming test flight.
“The flight will also achieve all initial objectives, including evaluating the improved tail, assessing the flight control system during the aircraft’s acceleration phase, evaluating components of the passenger cabin, and testing the ability to transmit signals from the aircraft to the ground,” a Virgin Galactic representative stated. Additionally, SpaceShipTwo Unity will conduct several scientific experiments as part of NASA’s Flight Opportunities program.
The flight on May 22 marks the final phase of the SpaceShipTwo Unity testing campaign. This phase may include additional tests. If everything goes smoothly, the spacecraft will begin commercial operations in early 2022.
