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(click pic for hi-res) First manned free flight of the VSS Enterprise! (photo: Virgin Galactic)
(3 CoolPix)
10.10.10 is a really big day in Mojave California as Virgin Galactic has taken one giant step closer to becoming the world's first commercial spaceline. The SpaceShipTwo named VSS Enterprise released from the WhiteKnightTwo mother ship VMS Eve at 45,000 feet as seen in the photo above. Pilot Pete Siebold and co-pilot Mike Alsbury had a variety of objectives for this flight, including verification that all systems were functioning properly prior to release; then, perform a clean release; evaluate initial flight handling qualities; stall characteristics; verification of lift-to-drag ratio performance; a practice approach at high altitude; and finally a completed descent and landing. The landing took place at the Mojave Air and Space Port.
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