Virgin Galactic again delays SpaceShipTwo flights
Posted: Fri, Feb 26, 2021, 10:08 AM ET (1508 GMT)
Virgin Galactic won't start regularly flying space tourists until early next year because of delays in its test program. The company said Thursday that it has postponed its next SpaceShipTwo test flight to May to correct electromagnetic interference issues. That interference was the likely cause of an aborted test flight in December. Virgin plans to perform two more test flights in the summer, and then a commercial flight carrying payloads and personnel for the Italian Air Force. Virgin expects to begin test flights of its next suborbital vehicle, called SpaceShip III, this summer. However, the company will pause tests of both the current and new vehicles late this year to perform work on the WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft, pushing out the start of tourist flights to early 2022.
Virgin Galactic won't start regularly flying space tourists until early next year because of delays in its test program. The company said Thursday that it has postponed its next SpaceShipTwo test flight to May to correct electromagnetic interference issues. That interference was the likely cause of an aborted test flight in December. Virgin plans to perform two more test flights in the summer, and then a commercial flight carrying payloads and personnel for the Italian Air Force. Virgin expects to begin test flights of its next suborbital vehicle, called SpaceShip III, this summer. However, the company will pause tests of both the current and new vehicles late this year to perform work on the WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft, pushing out the start of tourist flights to early 2022.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Space Force picks 14 companies for GEO surveillance program
Posted: Sat, Apr 11 10:34 AM ET (1434 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, April 15
ESA Advances Laser Comms Demonstration With Kepler Contract
Aviation Week — 6:36 am ET (1036 GMT) Amazon Enters Starlink’s Orbit With $11.6 Billion Satellite Deal
Bloomberg News — 6:33 am ET (1033 GMT) Apple chooses Amazon satellites for iPhone, years after rejecting Starlink offer
Ars Technica — 6:32 am ET (1032 GMT) Amazon to spend $11bn on satellite firm in growing Starlink rivalry
BBC — 6:32 am ET (1032 GMT) Telesat’s Risky Bid to Make Canada’s Starlink Gets Defense Boost
Bloomberg News — 6:32 am ET (1032 GMT) |
