Virgin Galactic plans first New Mexico space launch this month
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| Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity departs Mojave Air & Space Port in Mojave, Calif. for the final time as Virgin Galactic shifts its Space Flight operations to New Mexico. AP Photo |
LOS ANGELES— Virgin Galactic said Thursday that it expects to launch its first manned test flight into space from New Mexico this month.
The company’s spacecraft, VSS Unity, conducted two previous test spaceflights from Mojave, California, before moving in to its facilities at Spaceport America in New Mexico. Testing there has included unpowered glide flights and now the spaceflight planned between Nov. 19 and 23.
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| Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity coming in to land in a previous test flight |
The spaceport will be Virgin Galactic’s base for launching passengers on brief trips high above the Earth, starting with billionaire founder Richard Branson next year. The company did not announce a specific date for that event.
Unity is designed to be carried aloft beneath a special carrier jet and released at high altitude, where its rocket engine is ignited.
Mission Recap: Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Unity completes second flight from Spaceport America. June 25, 2020
Virgin Galactic VSS Unity cabin interior, Sci News, July 28, 2020
Virgin Galactic also has made progress on a second spaceship in its planned fleet and plans to roll it out during the first quarter of 2021, CEO Michael Colglazier said in a statement.
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