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Aerospace and space travel company Virgin Galactic announced Monday that a small alignment pin has come loose from the Galactic 06 space flight.
An alignment pin came off the launch pylon of the company’s mother ship, VMS Eve, during flight.
Richard Branson’s space venture said the problem was discovered during post-flight inspection and reported to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Wednesday, as required. The company is conducting the review in cooperation with the FAA.
VMS Eve, operated by Virgin Galactic, returns from the company’s first commercial flight to the edge of space at the Spaceport America facility in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, USA, on June 29, 2023. do. (Reuters/Jose Luis Gonzalez/File Photo/Reuters Photo)
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According to the Wall Street Journal, the company announced that four commercial astronauts and two crew members were on board the plane.
“Galactic Flight 06 was a safe and successful flight conducted in accordance with Virgin Galactic’s strict flight procedures and protocols,” the company said in a statement.
“At no time has the safety of the vehicle or crew been affected by the alignment pin being dislodged. It takes place at specific geographic launch locations.”
The company also said there was no damage to the spacecraft or mothership.
Virgin Galactic said the pins will help ensure the spacecraft is aligned with the mothership when joining the vehicles on the ground during pre-flight procedures.
A Virgin Galactic rocket-powered spaceplane is pictured gliding back to Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on June 29, 2023, during a research flight.Once research flights are complete, Virgin Galactic plans to begin commercial flights (Virgin Galactic, via AP/AP Newsroom)
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During conjunction flight, the alignment pin helps transfer drag and other forces from the spacecraft to the shear pin fitting assembly and then to the mothership’s pylons and center wing as the vehicle climbs toward release altitude.
The shear pin fitting assembly remained attached to the mothership and was undamaged.
“Both parts play a role during combined flight, but do not support the weight of the spacecraft and have no active function after the spacecraft is released,” the company said.
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“The alignment pin and shear pin fitting assembly functioned as designed during the mating portion during flight, and only the alignment pin disengaged after the spacecraft was released from the mothership.”
Virgin Galactic said it will provide further updates upon completion of the review and confirm the flight duration of the Galactic 07 mission, which is planned for the second quarter of 2024.
The flight launched on January 26th and was Virgin Galactic’s first space tourism mission of 2024, which began commercial service in 2023.
Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Galactic. (Virgin Orbit)
Virgin Galactic launched its first commercial astronaut mission last year. His second commercial spaceflight mission, known as Galactic 02, was launched into suborbital space aboard the reusable spaceplane VSS Unity from Spaceport America in New Mexico.
This “historic mission” brought the first Olympic athlete and first female astronaut from the Caribbean, as well as the youngest person to fly into space and the first mother-daughter duo.
Virgin Galactic was founded in 2004 by British entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson.
