Virgin Galactic embarks on first test flight

Virgin Galactic has tested its first spacecraft, the company announced recently, with the VSS Enterprise reaching an altitude of 13,700 metres.

“During its first flight the spaceship was piloted by Pete Siebold, assisted by Mike Alsbury as co-pilot. The two main goals of the flight were to carry out a clean release of the spaceship from its mothership and for the pilots to free fly and glide back and land at Mojave Air and Space Port in California,” the company said in a statement.

“Other detailed objectives of the flight were successfully completed, including; verification that all systems worked prior and following the clean release of Enterprise; initial evaluation of handling and stall characteristics; qualitative evaluation of stability and control of SS2 against predictions from design and simulation work… and finally descend and land.”

Virgin group founder Richard Branson was present at the flight and said it was one of the “most exciting” days in the history of the company.

The firm hopes to deliver passengers into space within the next few years.