Virgin Galactic
Virgin Galactic plans to conduct a rocket-powered test flight of its SpaceShipTwo Unity on 13 February. Credit: Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc.

British spaceflight company Virgin Galactic has revealed plans to conduct a rocket-powered test flight of its SpaceShipTwo Unity on 13 February.

With two pilots on board the spacecraft, this will be the first of two flights the company plans to conduct to complete testing of its SpaceShipTwo spacecraft system. The launch is subject to weather conditions and technical readiness.

The spacecraft will also carry research payloads as part of the Nasa Flight Opportunities programme.

Virgin Galactic CEO Michael Colglazier said: “We are pleased to be able to get back to the skies and continue our flight test programme. I would like to thank our team for their continued hard work and diligence in working towards this important milestone for Virgin Galactic.’’

As part of this test, the company will be testing the remedial work from its 12 December 2020 flight.

The company aborted its spaceflight attempt after the motor of the SpaceShipTwo vehicle ‘VSS Unity’ did not fully ignite during the flight test from its base in New Mexico.

Virgin Galactic has already completed the corrective work and carried out extensive ground testing. It will assess and verify the changes during a rocket-powered flight.

Following this flight, the team will complete an extensive data review and inform the next steps in the test flight programme.

In line with company and state Covid-19 protocols, the flight will be conducted in the presence of essential personnel only.

The flight will incorporate all the original test objectives from the previous test flight.