Virgin Galactic Unity 25
VSS Unity in February 2016
Mission typeCrewed sub-orbital spaceflight
OperatorVirgin Galactic
Apogee87.2 km (54.2 mi)
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftVSS Unity
Spacecraft typeSpaceShipTwo
ManufacturerThe Spaceship Company
Crew
Crew size6
MembersMichael Masucci
Frederick W. Sturckow
Beth Moses
Luke Mays
Jamila Gilbert
Christopher Huie
Start of mission
Launch date25 May 2023 15:15:00 UTC
Launch siteSpaceport America Runway 34
End of mission
Landing date25 May 2023 16:37:00 UTC
Landing siteSpaceport America Runway 34

Virgin Galactic Unity 25 mission patch
 

Virgin Galactic Unity 25 was a sub-orbital spaceflight by Virgin Galactic that took place on 25 May 2023. The flight used their SpaceShipTwo spaceplane VSS Unity. The crew consisted of six Virgin Galactic employees. Unity 25 was the first spaceflight for the company since Unity 22 in 2021, when founder Richard Branson flew to space.[1]

Background

Unity 25 was the first spaceflight for Virgin Galactic since Richard Branson flew to space in July 2021. The company had planned to fly a research flight for the Italian Air Force, Unity 23, later that year, but the fleet was temporarily grounded following an error during Branson's flight, along with upgrades and modifications being made to the vehicles. Virgin Galactic plans to fly its first commercial flight in late June 2023, following Unity 25's success.[2]

Crew

The crew of Unity 25 included two pilots and four passengers, all being employees at Virgin Galactic. Both pilots have flown SpaceShipTwo to space previously, and CJ Sturckow has flown to space on the Space Shuttle. Of the four passengers, only Beth Moses had flown to space before.[3]

Position Crew
Commander United States Michael Masucci
Third spaceflight
Pilot United States Frederick W. "CJ" Sturckow
Seventh spaceflight
Astronaut Instructor United States Beth Moses
Third spaceflight
Passenger United States Luke Mays
First spaceflight
Passenger United States Jamila Gilbert
First spaceflight
Passenger United States Christopher Huie
First spaceflight

Flight

The mission was Virgin Galactic's fifth spaceflight. VMS Eve, a WhiteKnightTwo mothership, took off from Spaceport America in New Mexico, and carried VSS Unity in a parasite configuration before releasing it. From there, the spaceplane ignited its rocket engine and flew to over 50 mi (80 km) in altitude, above the U.S. definition for the start of space, but below the FAI-defined Kármán line at 100 km (62 mi). It then reentered the atmosphere and landed on the same runway it took off from.[4]

References

  1. Davenport, Justin (25 May 2023). "VSS Unity conducts first powered flight since Branson's trip in 2021". NASASpaceFlight.com. Retrieved 25 May 2023.
  2. Sheetz, Michael (17 May 2023). "Virgin Galactic targets May 25 for first spaceflight since Richard Branson's trip". CNBC. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  3. "Virgin Galactic announces crew for return to space | Virgin". Virgin.com. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  4. "Virgin's Unity plane rockets skyward". BBC News. 22 February 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
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