[ Update Feb.20: The test flight has been postponed due to weather issues:
Our test flight window opened this morning, but the Mojave weather isn’t cooperating. We plan to try again in the next few days. We’ll keep you posted.
— Virgin Galactic (@virgingalactic) February 20, 2019
Friday is likely the next target.
]
Virgin Galactic plans to send the SpaceShipTwo “VSS Unity” once again to the border of space on Wednesday morning in Mojave, California (see earlier posting). No target time posted yet for takeoff of the WhiteKnightTwo with the SS2 hung beneath. Winds could always lead to delays. Once the duo takes off, it takes about 45 minutes to reach the altitude for the drop of the SS2. Check updates at Virgin Galactic (@virgingalactic) | Twitter.
This new video released on Tuesday focuses on the pilots:
Here are tweets about the two pilots, Dave Mackay and Mike ‘Sooch’ Masucci:
Get to know @VirginGalactic Chief Pilot, Dave Mackay. He has over forty years’ experience as a pilot, flying more than 140 types of aircraft. He has flown everything from Harrier jump jets, to Boeing 747’s and SpaceShipTwo. He’ll be in the cockpit for our next test flight. pic.twitter.com/HvYoOiXyz6
— Virgin Galactic (@virgingalactic) February 19, 2019
Co-piloting SpaceShipTwo for our fifth supersonic powered test flight will be Mike ‘Sooch’ Masucci. He’s flown over 80 different types of aircraft and accumulated more than 10,000 hours in the air as a pilot. Our test flight window opens tomorrow morning. pic.twitter.com/pn94WNvUsa
— Virgin Galactic (@virgingalactic) February 20, 2019
Here’s a photo of the mating of the SS2 to the WhiteKnightTwo on Sunday:
====
