Virgin Galactic Update on Test Flight Program
December 14 2020 - 6:59AM
Business Wire
Perfect Landing with Pilots, Mothership, and
Spaceship Safe, Secure, and in Excellent Condition
The Test Flight on December 12, 2020 Did Not
Reach Space as Planned, as the Rocket Motor Did Not Fire Due to the
Ignition Sequence not Completing
Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPCE), a vertically
integrated aerospace and space travel company, announced an update
following its recent test flight on December 12, 2020. During the
test flight, the rocket motor did not fire due to the ignition
sequence not completing. Following this event, the pilots conducted
a safe landing and return to Spaceport America, New Mexico as
planned.
Virgin Galactic is now conducting post-flight analysis and can
so far report that the onboard computer which monitors the
propulsion system lost connection, triggering a fail-safe scenario
that intentionally halted ignition of the rocket motor. This
system, like others on the spaceship, is designed such that it
defaults to a safe state whenever power or communication with
sensors is lost. The pilots in the spaceship, as well as the
engineers and pilots in mission control, are well prepared for any
off-nominal results, as they plan and rehearse many potential
scenarios during pre-flight simulation practice sessions, including
a scenario where the rocket motor does not ignite after release
from the mothership.
Michael Colglazier, CEO, Virgin Galactic said: “Our flight
landed beautifully, with pilots, planes, and spaceship safe,
secure, and in excellent shape — the foundation of every successful
mission!
The flight did not reach space as we had been planning. After
being released from its mothership, the spaceship’s onboard
computer that monitors the rocket motor lost connection. As
designed, this triggered a fail-safe scenario that intentionally
halted ignition of the rocket motor. Following this occurrence, our
pilots flew back to Spaceport America and landed gracefully as
usual.
When I became CEO, I was briefed on the safety engineering of
our Spaceflight System, which is purposely designed to enable our
pilots to safely glide back to the Spaceport at any point during
the flight profile. Seeing firsthand how our pilots brought Unity
in for a picture perfect landing after an off-nominal condition
confirmed this approach. I am even more confident that this is the
level of safety that consumers will want and will be expecting from
us.
As we do with every test flight, we are evaluating all the data,
including the root cause assessment of the computer communication
loss. We remain focused on the test flight program we have
previously announced, beginning with a repeat of this test flight,
which included two pilots and NASA payloads. This will be followed
by another test flight which will include mission specialists in
the cabin. And following that flight, we will have another test
flight which will include our founder, Sir Richard Branson. We look
forward to sharing information on our next flight window in the
near future.”
You can download all press materials including images and
B-roll from the Virgin Galactic Press
FTP.
B-roll of the test flight on December 12, 2020 is
included.
About Virgin Galactic Holdings
Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. is a vertically integrated
aerospace and space travel company, pioneering human spaceflight
for private individuals and researchers, as well as a manufacturer
of advanced air and space vehicles. It is developing a spaceflight
system designed to offer customers a unique and transformative
experience. You can find more information at
https://www.virgingalactic.com/
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201214005399/en/
For media inquiries: Aleanna Crane - Vice President
Communications Virgingalacticpress@virgingalactic.com
For Investor Relations inquiries:
VirginGalactic-SVC@SARDVERB.com
Virgin Galactic (NYSE:SPCE)
Historical Stock Chart
From Mar 2024 to Apr 2024
Virgin Galactic (NYSE:SPCE)
Historical Stock Chart
From Apr 2023 to Apr 2024