Anomaly Discovered After January Crewed Suborbital Flight
Virgin Galactic is working closely with regulatory authorities to investigate an issue related to an alignment pin that was discovered after the last crewed suborbital flight in January. The company notified the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) about the anomaly, and a joint review is underway as part of standard procedure for issues arising during commercial launches.
What is the Alignment Pin?
The alignment pin is a small but crucial component that ensures the VMS Unity spaceship is properly aligned with VMS Eve, the aircraft carrying the suborbital space plane to altitude. This critical alignment is essential for a safe and successful mission. During flight, the pin plays an important role in shifting drag and other aerodynamic forces from the spaceship to the aircraft.
Role of the Alignment Pin
According to Virgin Galactic’s statement on the anomaly:
"During mated flight, as the vehicles climb towards release altitude, the alignment pin helps transfer drag and other forces from the spaceship to the shear pin fitting assembly and into the pylon and center wing of the mothership."
Importance of Correct Alignment
The alignment pin detached only after the spaceship was released from VMS Eve. This is significant because it means that the component performed as designed during the mated portion of the flight, never posing a safety issue to the vehicles or the four paying customers and two Virgin pilots on board.
Investigation Process
When an anomaly occurs in the course of a mission, the standard procedure involves the company conducting its own investigation into the issue with the oversight of the FAA. The company then submits a final report to the regulator detailing corrective actions taken to prevent similar issues from recurring.
Timeline and Next Steps
It is unclear how long the joint investigation will take. However, Virgin Galactic remains confident that it will be able to execute its next flight in the second quarter of 2024. The company has announced plans to provide a further update at the completion of the review and confirm the flight window for the ‘Galactic 07’ mission.
Quote from Virgin Galactic
Virgin Galactic’s statement on the anomaly:
"Virgin Galactic will provide a further update at the completion of the review and will confirm the flight window for the ‘Galactic 07’ mission, which is planned for the second quarter of 2024."
Impact on Space Tourism
This incident highlights the importance of thorough checks and regular maintenance in ensuring the safety of space tourism operations. As Virgin Galactic continues to work with regulators to resolve this issue, it is essential that they maintain transparency and provide updates to their customers.
