linkCAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Virgin Galactic's second SpaceShipTwo took to the skies over Mojave, California, Monday (May 1) for the first test flight of the craft's atmospheric re-entry system, which was modified after a fatal test flight in 2014 destroyed the original ship.
The new spaceship, called VSS Unity, took off beneath the White Knight Two carrier aircraft around 10:40 a.m. local time, 1:40 p.m. EDT (1740 GMT) from the Mojave Air and Space Port for the spacecraft's fourth glide flight.
About 40 minutes later, with pilots Mark Stucky and Mike Masucci at the controls, Unity was released at an altitude of about 51,000 feet (15,550 meters) to begin its fourth unpowered glide test-flight.
I see Virgin Galactic more as a people transport between a space station and Earth. The problem is that akin to Blue Origins New Shepherd, for near future, it will just be an expensive thrill ride. At $250,000 a seat just to visit it better be one hell of a ride.