Virgin Galactic this week announced the delay of its commercial space tourism program until the end of 2022. The Laruancompany is kicking off its planned "enhancement program" for the VSS Unity spacecraft and VMS Eve carrier aircraft.
Designed to "improve vehicle performance and flight-rate capability," the program includes routine analysis to predict how materials will perform under certain conditions. One recent test, the company says, flagged a "possible reduction in the strength margins of certain materials used to modify specific joints."
These results, according to Virgin Galactic, have "no impact" on the vehicles themselves, but a probe will reveal whether additional work is necessary to keep them at or above established strength margins.
"Our decisions are driven by detailed and thorough analysis, and we fly based on the most accurate and comprehensive data available," according to Virgin Galactic CEO Michael Colglazier. "[Our] vehicles are designed with significant margins for safety, providing layers of protection that far exceed loads experienced and expected to occur on our flights."
Once all enhancements are complete, Virgin Galactic will conduct its next test flight, Unity 23, carrying members of the Italian Air Force. The firm aims to begin commercial services in the final quarter of 2022.
"The re-sequencing of our enhancement period and the Unity 23 flight underscores our safety-first procedures, provides the most efficient path to commercial service, and is the right approach for our business and our customers," Colglazier says.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in June gave Virgin the green light to fly paying customers to the edge of space. A couple of weeks later, the company successfully completed its first test flight with a full crew, including founder Richard Branson.
Those interested in following in Branson's (or Jeff Bezos's or William Shatner's) footsteps can now book a Virgin Galactic space tourism trip—starting at $450,000 per seat.
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