Virgin Galactic has announced that it has tested out the VSS Unity’s feather re-entry system for the first time.
The company has released a video which shows the system in action below, the feather system was tested on the ground extensively previously.
Full analysis of the data from today’s flight will, as always, take time; but initial reports from the pilots and from mission control are extremely encouraging.
VSS Unity was piloted today by Mark Stucky and Mike Masucci, with pilots Nicola Pecile and CJ Sturckow as well as flight test engineer Dustin Mosher in WhiteKnightTwo. Today’s test flight was the fourth glide flight (and eight flight overall) of VSS Unity, and the 227th flight of WhiteKnightTwo VMS Eve.
You can find out more information about the Virgin Galactic VSS Unity’ over at the company’s website at the link below.