Virgin Galactic logo.
Dec. 13, 2020
Virgin Galactic's rocket ship SpaceShipTwo had to turn back on a test flight on Saturday and return to Earth with its two pilots due to a technical issue, the company said on its account. Twitter.
"The rocket engine ignition sequence has not ended," space travel company Virgin Galactic said, assuring that the ship and crew "are in great shape."
Image above: Virgin Galactic's rocket ship, SpaceShipTwo, during a test flight on December 13, 2018, in Mojave, California. Image Credit: Gene Blevins AFP.
SpaceShipTwo took off from Spaceport America's base in New Mexico at 3:24 p.m. GMT. But his two pilots had to turn back, and returned to their starting point just over an hour later, at 4:45 p.m. GMT, according to the Twitter account.
Virgin Galactic on Twitter
"We have several engines ready at Spaceport America. We will check the ship and resume flight soon," Virgin Galactic said, without giving further details.
The company plans to take passengers capable of paying hundreds of thousands of dollars, floating for a few minutes at the edge of space.
SpaceShipTwo is due to take its first passengers into space in 2021, and 600 people have already bought their ticket for this first flight for the sum of $ 250,000.
Virgin Galactic rocket turns back on test flight
This would kick off commercial space tourism flights.
The development of the Virgin Galactic rocket ship, called SpaceShipTwo, was notably delayed by an accident in 2014 when a handling error by one of the two pilots had caused the aircraft to disintegrate in flight.
Virgin Galactic: https://www.virgingalactic.com/
Images, Video, Text, Credits: AFP/Virgin Galactic/Orbiter.ch Aerospace/Roland Berga.
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