Successful Glide Flight Puts Virgin Galactic on
the Path for Space Flight from New Mexico
Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPCE) (“Virgin Galactic”
or “the Company”) today announced the successful completion of the
second SpaceShipTwo test flight from Spaceport America. This flight
follows the completion of the first test flight from the Company’s
commercial headquarters in New Mexico on May 1, 2020, and marks
another important milestone as the team progresses toward the
launch of Virgin Galactic’s commercial service.
On SpaceShipTwo Unity’s flight deck were Mark ‘Forger’ Stucky
and Michael ‘Sooch’ Masucci. Both pilots are commercial astronauts,
having each previously flown Unity into space on different flights.
Piloting the Company’s carrier aircraft, VMS Eve, were Nicola
Pecile and CJ Sturckow.
This glide flight, flown at higher speeds, allowed the team to
continue to evaluate systems and vehicle performance in advance of
future rocket-powered space flights from the Company’s new
operating base in New Mexico. Flying VSS Unity in glide
configuration at higher speeds enables certain vehicle systems to
operate close to the environment seen during phases of rocket boost
on a spaceflight. The spaceship achieved a glide speed of Mach 0.85
after being released from the mothership VMS Eve at an altitude of
51,000 ft. Unity completed multiple test-points before touching
back down smoothly for a runway landing at Spaceport America.
Forger and Sooch performed a series of maneuvers with Unity
designed to gather data about performance and handling qualities
while flying at higher speeds. This data will be verified against
similar maneuvers that were performed in the previous glide flight
to enhance aerodynamic modelling.
The test flight was conducted under a set of stringent
operational protocols to ensure safety against COVID-19. These
protocols include changes to the work areas and procedures to
enforce social distancing as advised by state guidelines as well as
universal mask usage.
Last weekend, the Company’s Spaceship and Propulsion teams
completed a full ‘wet dress’ rehearsal designed to check out the
new facilities and equipment at Spaceport America. During this
rehearsal, the teams positioned the spaceflight system on the
runway and loaded VSS Unity with active propellant.
Pending the completion of an extensive data review of this
flight, the team will start preparing for the next stage of our
flight test program - powered spaceflights from Spaceport America.
In addition to the data review, we have several steps to complete,
including final modifications to the spaceship customer cabin and
detailed inspections of the vehicle and systems.
Virgin Galactic would like to express its thanks to New Mexico
Spaceport Authority (NMSA), the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR),
the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Albuquerque Flight
Standards District Office (FSDO), and the FAA Air Traffic Control
Center in Albuquerque for smooth coordination and efficient
integration.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said: "I'm excited by the
continued progress Virgin Galactic has made in New Mexico and
confident in their work going forward. Our state has the
opportunity to be a leader in commercial spaceflight, and partners
like Virgin Galactic are leading the way."
George Whitesides, CEO of Virgin Galactic and The Spaceship
Company said: “I am thrilled with the team’s hard work to complete
today’s test flight successfully. It was an important test that,
pending data review, means we can now start preparing the vehicles
for powered flight. Our focus for this year remains unchanged on
ensuring the vehicles and our operations are prepared for
long-term, regular commercial spaceflight service.”
You can download all press materials including images and
broll from the Virgin Galactic Press FTP.
About Virgin Galactic
Virgin Galactic is a vertically-integrated aerospace Company,
pioneering human spaceflight for private individuals and
researchers, as well as a manufacturer of advanced air and space
vehicles. Using its proprietary and reusable technologies and
supported by a distinctive, Virgin-branded customer experience, it
is developing a spaceflight system designed to offer customers a
unique, multi-day, transformative experience. This culminates in a
spaceflight that includes views of Earth from space and several
minutes of weightlessness that will launch from Spaceport America,
New Mexico. Virgin Galactic and The Spaceship Company believe that
one of the most exciting and significant opportunities of our time
lies in the commercial exploration of space and the development of
technology that will change the way we travel across the globe in
the future. Together we are opening access to space to change the
world for good.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements
within the meaning of federal securities laws with respect to
Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”), including
statements regarding the Company’s spaceflight systems, markets and
expected performance. These forward-looking statements generally
are identified by words such as “believe,” “project,” “expect,”
“anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,”
“opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” and
similar expressions. Forward looking statements are predictions,
projections and other statements about future events that are based
on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are
subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual
future events to differ materially from the forward-looking
statements in this presentation, including but not limited to the
factors, risks and uncertainties regarding the Company’s business
described in the documents filed by the Company from time to time
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). These
filings identify and address other important risks and
uncertainties that could cause the Company’s actual events and
results to differ materially from those contained in the
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only
as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put
undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and, except as
required by law, the Company assumes no obligation and does not
intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events, or
otherwise.
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