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An extended-awaited rocket-powered flight over the southern New Mexico desert on Saturday was a lot shorter than Virgin Galactic and its founder, Richard Branson, had been hoping for.
The firm’s WhiteKnightTwo plane took off from Spaceport America at 7:24 a.m. PT (8:24 a.m. MT), carrying the passenger spacecraft SpaceShipTwo Unity. The pair then spent about 45 minutes climbing to launch altitude at greater than 40,000 ft (12,192 meters).
About 50 minutes after takeoff, a livestream from NASASpaceflight.com appeared to indicate Unity separating and its rocket engine firing for almost a second earlier than shutting down early.
“The ignition sequence for the rocket motor did not complete,” the corporate reported in a while Twitter. “Vehicle and crew are in great shape. We have several motors ready at Spaceport America. We will check the vehicle and be back to flight soon.”
Unity glided again for a touchdown at Spaceport America, and the corporate confirmed that every one pilots and autos are secure and safe.
After years of improvement and delays because of a deadly accident and now the COVID-19 pandemic, the corporate’s hope to ship Branson after which paying clients to house by 2020 had already been dashed even earlier than this aborted check flight.
Virgin has accomplished powered check flights from California. But it goals to carry out two check flights from its business residence base in New Mexico earlier than Branson lastly will get to take the joyride he is been ready (and paying) for because the firm’s founding in 2004.
Saturday’s flight was additionally carrying some small payloads for NASA. It’s not but clear when the corporate will attempt once more.
(This story has not been edited by Newslivenation workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)