At about 10:30 a.m. ET the VMS Eve mothership shot to popularity from Virgin Galactic’s spaceport in brand new Mexico, carrying the SpaceShipTwo Unity.
The Unity was launched by the Eve around 11:15 a.m., and its own rocket motor ignited but seemed to shut down one 2nd later on. The Unity landed safely back at Spaceport America after about fifteen minutes.
“The ignition sequence for the rocket motor didn’t complete,” Virgin Galactic tweeted afterward. “car and team have been in great form. We’ve a few motors prepared at Spaceport America. We shall check the automobile and become back again to trip soon.”
Night, CEO Michael Colglazier tweeted that after the production from the mothership, Unity’s onboard computer that monitors the rocket motor lost connection Saturday. That caused a fail-safe that halted the rocket motor’s ignition.
The flight had been expected to finish data-gathering for the ultimate two FAA validation and verification milestones. That would allow flights which are commercial SpaceShipTwo to begin. The Unity also carried payloads being revenue-generating part of the NASA Flight Opportunities system.
Prior to the flight, Virgin Galactic stated Saturday it aimed to reach objectives that are key such as, assessment of this client cabin in addition to upgraded horizontal stabilizers and journey settings.
After completing unpowered flights which are glide Virgin Galactic had formerly planned rocket-powered flights to start in a Nov. 19-23 test screen. Spiking coronavirus cases in New Mexico forced a delay. Colglazier said month that is final business remains experiencing schedule and cost inefficiencies as a result of the pandemic and expects those to keep in 2021.
It is not clear how the coronavirus delays will influence 1st routes which can be commercial. The company previously had predicted that solution would begin in Q1 with Branson on the journey that is first. At about 10:30 a.m. ET the VMS Eve mothership aborted.
