By
Alexandra Klausner
and Zoe Szathmary
15:15 EST, 11 January 2014
|
08:09 EST, 12 January 2014
New photos of Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo aircraft, designed for space tourism, show it successfully completing its third rocket-powered test yesterday and reaching an all-time high.
The pictures, taken by cameras placed on carrier plane WhiteKnightTwo, show SpaceShipTwo falling away before it's unhooked and using its hybrid rocket.
The test at Mojave Air and and Space Port in California was meant to simulate a flight into outer-space that will go into effect later this year. Virgin Galactic eventually wants to host commercial space tours.
Not only did Virgin Galactic have a successful third test of the aircraft but they reached an altitude of 71,000 feet, reports NBC. The flight prior to this test reached 69,000 feet.
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Pilot Dave MacKay successfully
piloted the aircraft and returned it safely back to Earth. Following the
flight he said the experience was a 'dream come true.' This is the
first flight in which a Virgin Atlantic pilot sat in the cockpit.
Scaled Composites test pilot Mark Stucky was beside Mackay in the cockpit.
Meanwhile, Virgin Galactic's Mike Masucci and Scaled's Mike Alsbury were at the controls of SpaceShipTwo's mothership, WhiteKnightTwo.
During the first part of the test flight, SpaceShipTwo was tucked beneath twin-fuselage WhiteKnightTwo.
Together the planes took off at 7:20 am PT and rose 46,000 feet. After 46,000 feet, they unhooked SpaceShipTwo for a rocket blast.
NBC reports that the plane coasted in the sky following the burn and the pilots positioned its wings to ensure a stable descent.
Minutes later once the wings were straight, the plane landed on Mojaves 12,000 foot runway with WeKnightTwo landing minutes afterwards.
The 27-foot-wide winged space shift tested flight with a 20 second engine burn which amplifies the speed of the plane to a maximum velocity of Mach 1.4., reports Digital Trends.
This particular test was meant to monitor the thermal coating on the tail of the spacecraft as well as the ship's control system that helps the pilot make his way out of outer space and also give space tourists the best views.
'I have watched SS2 evolve over the years into an incredible vehicle that is going to open up space to more people than ever before,' Mackay said. 'To be behind the controls and fly it as the rocket ignited is something I will never forget. She flew like a champ.'
SpaceShipTwo is a better version of
SpaceShipOne. The original rocket plane that won the $10 million Ansari X
Prize for private spaceflight in 2004 in Mojave now lives at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum.
Space tourism, once regarded as something of the future, will exist in our lifetime.
'2014 will be the year when we will finally put our beautiful spaceship in her natural environment of space. Today, we had our own Chief Pilot flying another flawless supersonic flight and proving the various systems required to take us safely to space, as well as providing the very best experience while we’re up there,' said Virgin CEO Richard Branson.
Celebrities have already started signing up for the exclusive space tours ready to take off later this year.
NBC reports that Katy Perry and Justin Bieber have already signed up. Tickets cost $250,000.
CEO Richard Branson has promised to take a seat on the ship's first flight.
Branson hopes to move the passnger flight base to Spaceport America in New Mexico.