Virgin Galactic:
Long-range tracking shot of VSS Unity in its feathered configuration – Photo: Virgin Galactic, MarsScientific/Trumbull Studios
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.
A successful test flight was conducted this morning from the Mojave Air and Space Port, during which we tested VSS Unity’s ‘feather’ re-entry system in flight for the first time.
This test follows after extensive testing of the feather system on the ground.