SpaceShipTwo Unity takes off for Flight Test from New Mexico on Dec. 12. Photo: Virgin Galactic
Virgin Galactic shares dropped 17% on Monday after a test flight over the weekend failed to reach space when the vehicle’s rocket motors did not ignite.
The Dec. 12 test was a powered flight for SpaceShipTwo Unity, Virgin Galactic’s suborbital vehicle which is designed to carry space tourists. When SpaceShipTwo was released from its carrier vehicle VMS Eve about 45 minutes into the flight, the ignition sequence did not complete and its rocket motor did not fire.
Virgin Galactic reported Monday that the onboard computer which monitors the propulsion system lost connection, which triggered a scenario that halted the rocket motor’s ignition. This system is designed to default to safe state if power or communication with sensors is lost, Virgin Galactic said. At that point, pilots CJ Sturckow and Dave Mackay flew the vehicle back to Spaceport America in New Mexico where it landed
Virgin Galactic investiga fallas que provocaron el fracaso del cohete de su avión espacial
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Virgin Galactic Shares Slump After Test Flight to Space Aborted
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Seconds After Release From WhiteKnightTwo, Rocket Briefly Fires and Fails
ANN Real-Time Update 1012ET, 12.13.20: Virgin Galactic has been pretty quiet about Saturday s failed attempt to see SS2 Unity safely into space, as it has accomplished on two previous occasions when launched from Mojave, CA.
However; we do have a LITTLE bit of info from VG that suggests that Saturday s misfire may be related to electronic issues that shut down the single rocket engine just as it was ignited in flight. A VG twitter explained, “After being released from its mothership, SpaceShipTwo Unity’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.”