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VSS UNITY'S FIRST FEATHER FLIGHT
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May 1, 2017 - Following extensive and rigorous tests on the ground, our vehicles took to the air this morning for VSS Unity’s fourth glide flight. Shortly after release, spaceship pilots Mark ‘Forger’ Stucky and Mike ‘Sooch’ Masucci activated the feather configuration in the air for the first time, to test how the feather system functions under flight conditions and to evaluate the flying qualities of VSS Unity while the feather is raised. The feather is a unique and critical feature of spaceship’s re-entry system! See Video
Today’s flight also tested improvements to the system, including the new automated lock mechanism that has been put in place on VSS Unity to prevent the feather from being unlocked early. In this particular flight, the feather was deployed at a much lower altitude than would be the case on a full space flight, as the thicker atmosphere also allows for rigorous testing of the system that complements tests already completed on the ground.
The team are now reviewing the data and will use that to move forward with the next phase of our testing programme, with each test flight continuing to expand the envelope. We are sure you share our congratulations to all the team in Mojave on this significant milestone!
About Virgin Galactic
Virgin Galactic, owned by Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and Aabar Investments PJS, is on track to be the world’s first commercial spaceline. The new spaceship VSS Unity) and carrier craft (WhiteKnightTwo, VMS Eve) have both been developed for Virgin Galactic by Mojave-based Scaled Composites. Founded by Burt Rutan, Scaled developed
SpaceShipOne, which in 2004 claimed the $10m Ansari X Prize as the world’s first privately developed manned spacecraft. Virgin Galactic’s new vehicles share much of the same basic design, but are being built to carry six customers, or the equivalent scientific research payload, on sub-orbital space flights, allowing an out-of-the-seat, zero-gravity experience and offering astounding views of the planet from the black sky of space for tourist astronauts and a unique microgravity platform for researchers. The Virgin Galactic commercial operations, are based at Spaceport America in New Mexico.
About Galactic Experiences by DePrez
Galactic Experiences by DePrez is a member of the DePrez Group Of Travel Companies and is the largest independent travel management firm in central and western NY. Founded in 1929 the group provides extensive and diverse travel services, including cruise sales of Just Cruises, Inc. a top 50 cruise-only agency in N.A.), meeting and conventions planning to fortune 100 companies and large associations, corporate travel management, and luxury travel leisure sales through Whitaker & DePrez Travel Partners LLC.
For additional information please contact Craig Curran at ccurran@galacticexperiencesbydeprez.com.
For More Information Please Contact:
CRAIG CURRAN , ASA
Galactic Experiences By DePrez, DePrez Travel Bureau, Inc.
585-442-8900 X224
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