Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Feathers its Wings in Drop Test

摘要

Virgin Galactic's suborbital spaceplane SpaceShipTwo soared through the California sky April 3 in an unpowered flight test meant to pave the way for future passenger trips to space. SpaceShipTwo was released at high altitude from its WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft and glided to a runway landing at the Mojave Air and Space Port. The successful drop moves the craft closer to its first hot-engine flight using its hybrid rocket motor. Bill Deaver, veteran Mojave Air and Space Port tarmac watcher, said SpaceShipTwo glided to its landing at 8:40 a.m. local time. "The flight followed the usual pattern with the drop and glide preceded by a fuel dump from the spaceship," Deaver said. "The weather was perfect and the wind was blowing out of the east, which meant that when the spaceship slid to a stop on its landing gear and wooden nose skid, the handful of spectators got a whiff of burnt wood."