"The spacecraft is the second" will be the world's first commercial suborbital spacecraft

Galactic Virgin "spaceship, second" will become the world's first commercial suborbital spacecraft, in Thursday's test, the "second spacecraft" was the second powered flight, and raise the top speed to Mach 1.43, successful completion of supersonic flight, compared to April, conducted flight tests have made greater progress.

The company said it will continue to conduct flight tests, including breakthrough test altitude and speed. Rocket-powered flight in this impressive, burning about 20 seconds of the time, the maximum flight speed: Mach 1.43 times, a maximum flight altitude of 69,000 feet, or 21 km. Flight tests conducted in April, the maximum speed of Mach 1.2 and a maximum flight altitude of 56,200 feet, in fact, the final version of the "spaceship to the second" arrived in parabolic orbit altitude of about 100 km.

Pilots make·sitaji and kelinte·nikeersi perform the supersonic powered flight, "spaceship to the second" were hanging from beneath the White Knight, second, take off from the Mojave air and space port in California, the latter as "spacecraft is the second" aircraft platform, a wingspan of 141 feet, about 43 m. After arriving in predetermined height, White Knight spaceship, second, second release, launch rocket-powered. During the flight, spaceship, second State control through two massive wings, eventually landing on the runway in the Mojave desert. Virgin Galactic founder, United Kingdom billionaire Richard Branson, said, "we will start commercial service in 2014, supersonic flight is an important milestone, the spacecraft reentry system is being put to the test during the testing process we see the design success."

Second spacecraft to reach 100 kilometers in altitude, here is internationally recognized as the edge of space, currently has more than 600 clients have signed an agreement, if paid $ 250,000, you will experience a suborbital trip to weightlessness. In fact, spaceship, second to win the $ 10 million Ansari x Prize, was first developed in the organisation of practical suborbital spacecraft, and conducted flight tests. Mojave air and space port, the ship took off second base, but the spaceport in New Mexico will also begin operating its business services and eventually the company will build a fleet of 5 aircraft constitute a fleet of suborbital spacecraft, achieving the dream of commercial space travel.