SpaceShipTwo Glides Home to New Mexico

by | May 4, 2020 | All space related, Space Money

Virgin Galactic steps one step closer to its Giant Leap goal. The VSS Unity suborbital spacecraft completed its first unpowered glide flight over Spaceport America. The May 1st flight is one of many milestones needed for commencing commercial flights.  

Development of Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo

So what is the big deal? Didn’t Virgin Galactic already do this?

On 13 December 2018, Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity finally reached “Space” with a suborbital space flight, reaching an altitude of 82.7 kilometers (51.4 mi). It is noteworthy that this definition of “Space” is to the US standards and not internationally recognized.

Virgin Galactic came a long way since what might be considered a low point in 2014. In a chilling turn of events, Virgin Galactic’s first major disaster occurred in 2014. October 31st, 2014, during the fourth rocket-powered test flight of one of the company’s SpaceShipTwo craft, VSS Enterprise, broke apart in midair. Debris fell to the Mojave Desert in California just shortly after being released. In the crash, co-pilot Michael Alsbury, age 39, was killed and pilot Peter Siebold, age 43, was seriously injured. Since that disaster, Virgin Galactic paused to review the craft’s safety measures and improve on them.

Wreckage of the Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo in California’s Mojave Desert, Oct. 31, 2014. Credit –KCBS

This stark reminder of what can go wrong resulted in a slower pace for the company. Since resuming activities, the many improvements put in place to increase safety appear to make a difference.    

Thankfully, Virgin Galactic didn’t experience any more major catastrophes during testing. The company conducted multiple glides and other test flights, so what is different about the recent test flight?  

What’s different and why should we care?

Previously, Virgin Galactic flights took off from Mojave Air and Space Port in Southern California. This time, Virgin Galactic conducted flights from Spaceport America.

Spaceport America is “the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport”, designed & constructed for commercial space users. Traditional airports are not equipped to service space customers. The site accommodates both vertical and horizontal launch aerospace vehicles, as well as an array of non-aerospace events and commercial activities required for commercial space. Spaceport America is owned and operated by the State of New Mexico, via a state agency, the New Mexico Spaceport Authority.

Virgin test flight may 1
SpaceShipTwo Unity attached to the mothership, VMS Eve, and the vehicles are preparing to conduct a glide flight from Spaceport America, New Mexico on May 1, 2020.

Delays in Virgin Galactic starting commercial operations put a strain on the spaceport. Spaceport America’s cashflow shortcomings aren’t just resulting from Virgin Galactic. SpaceX and other companies also were targeted as potential Achor tenants. Those plans are yet to yield fruit.  

Some good news for the spaceport, the WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo moved to the Spaceport in February 2020. Virgin Galactic wants to start commercial operations soon. The current plan includes operational flights are expected to begin sometime in 2020. The starting of flights is important not just for Spaceport America, but also for Virgin Galactic and its shareholders.  

Virgin Galactic announced in 2019 that it planned to become the first space tourism company that is publicly traded. But wait, doesn’t that typically mean that Virgin Galactic would need to go through a long SEC process? Well, that is the trick here with what is called a Reverse Merger. Virgin Galactic approached the listing process with the announcement of a reverse merger with Social Capital Hedosophia and listed as SPCE on the NYSE.

A reverse merger happens when a publicly trading company, like Social Capital Hedosophia, merges with a private company, in this case, Virgin Galactic. The Reason it is a Reverse Merger is the private company, Virgin Galactic, survives, occupying and operating in the publicly-traded company’s legal shell. The private company takes over controlling ownership of the stock of the public company. Typically, the management of the company and the company’s name changed to what was the private company and updating the stock symbol. And, no, both companies don’t need to be in similar market segments.

Virgin Galactic offered a Giant Leap program in brief

Although Virgin Galactic has not made public the ticket pricing for Giant Leap seats, they have disclosed that they intend to offer a range of prices. Initially Virgin Galactic will be charging upwards of US$250,000 to those who signed up early.

Virgin Galactic has a dedicated Astronaut Office to guide you through the Giant Leap spaceflight reservation process. Virgin Galactic isn’t just offering a trip to space and back. Virgin is offering to become a full member of the exclusive Virgin Galactic Future Astronaut Community including three days of training and preparation at Spaceport America

Once passing the Astronaut requirements, Virgin Galactic astronauts board SpaceShipTwo which would be attached to the WhiteKnightTwo.

(some details about the Virgin Galactic commerical spacecraft)

SpaceShipTwo

  • Crew: 2
  • Capacity: 6 passengers
  • Length: 18.3 m (60 ft)
  • Wingspan: 8.3 m (27 ft)
  • Height: 5.5 m (18 ft – rudders down)
  • Loaded weight: 9,740 kg (21,428 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × RocketMotorTwo liquid/solid hybrid rocket engine
  • Performance
  • Maximum speed: 4,000 km/h (2,500 mph)
  • Service ceiling: 110 km

WhiteKnightTwo

  • Crew: 2 (flight crew) + spaceship launch crew
  • Capacity: payload 17,000 kg (37,000 lb) to 50,000 ft (15,000 m).; 200 kg satellite to LEO when carrying a LauncherOne orbital launch vehicle.
  • Length: 78 ft 9 in (24 m)
  • Wingspan: 141 ft 1 in (43 m)
  • Powerplant: 4 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PW308 turbofan engines, 6,900 lbf (30.69 kN) thrust each
  • Performance
  • Service ceiling: 70,000 ft (21,000 m)

About Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic is a vertically-integrated aerospace company. Virgin Galactic was started as a part of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group. Along with the other sister companies, The Spaceship Company and Virgin Orbit, Virgin Galactic is developing and operating a new generation of space vehicles. Virgin Galactic is on a mission to open space for everyone and to be the Spaceline for Earth.

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