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VSS Unity
American commercial sub-orbitable space ship

VSS Unity (Virgin Space Ship Unity, registration: N202VG), previously referred to as VSS Voyager, is a retired SpaceShipTwo-class suborbital rocket-powered crewed spaceplane. It was the second SpaceShipTwo to be built and was part of the Virgin Galactic fleet. It first reached space as defined by the United States (above 50 miles or 80.5 km) on 13 December 2018, on the VP-03 mission.

Unity was able to reach space as defined by the U.S. Air Force, NASA, and the FAA, by going over 50 miles (80.5 km) above sea level. However, it was unable to go above the Kármán line, the FAI's defined space boundary of 100 km (62.1 miles).

VSS Unity was rolled out on 19 February 2016 and completed ground-based system integration testing in September 2016, prior to its first flight on 8 September 2016.

Unity was retired on 8 June 2024 after its final flight took place on that date, as Virgin Galactic shifted its focus to the next generation Delta-class vehicles.

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Overview

VSS Unity, the second SpaceShipTwo suborbital spaceplane for Virgin Galactic,8 was the first SpaceShipTwo built by The Spaceship Company. The ship's name was announced on 19 February 2016.9 Prior to the naming announcement, the craft was referred to as SpaceShipTwo, Serial Number Two.1011 There was speculation in 2004 that Serial Number Two would be named VSS Voyager,12 an unofficial name that was repeatedly used in media coverage.131415 The name Unity was chosen by British physicist Stephen Hawking. Hawking's eye was also used as the model for the eye logo on the side of Unity.16

History

The manufacture of Unity began in 2012.17 The spacecraft's registration, N202VG, was filed in September 2014.18 As of early November 2014, the build of Unity was about 90 percent structurally complete, and 65 percent complete overall. As of April 2015, ground tests of Unity were projected to be able to begin as early as late 2015,19 after being projected as early as mid-2015 as of November 2014.202122 On 21 May 2015, Unity reached the milestone of bearing the weight of the airframe on its own wheels.23 The spaceship was unveiled on 19 February 2016,24 as Virgin Galactic founder Sir Richard Branson had projected in November 2015; ground and flight testing commenced thereafter.2526

VSS Unity was the second SpaceShipTwo to be completed; the first, VSS Enterprise, was destroyed in a crash in late October 2014.2728

After rollout and unveiling, a phase of testing called "Integrated Vehicle Ground Testing" began on VSS Unity in February 2016.29

Test flight program

See also: VSS Enterprise § Flight test program

VSS Unity underwent a test regimen similar to VSS Enterprise and then embarked on testing beyond what Enterprise experienced. The test flights were expected to be fewer, as Enterprise had already tested the design's responses under numerous conditions. For each flight test, the White Knight Two aircraft carried Unity to altitude. Testing began with captive carry flights, in which Unity was not released from its carrier aircraft. Testing then progressed to free-flight glide testing, and continued with powered test flights.30

On 8 September 2016, Virgin Galactic commenced flight testing of Unity with a captive-carry flight.31 On 1 November 2016, Virgin Galactic conducted another captive-carry flight of Unity but cancelled the glide portion of the flight because of wind speed.32 On 3 November and 30 November, additional captive-carry flights took place.333435

In July 2017, Richard Branson suggested that the craft was to begin powered tests at three-week intervals.36 In September 2017, CEO George Whitesides suggested that engine testing was complete, and that only a "small number of glide flights" remained before VSS Unity would begin powered test flights.37 The first powered flight test took place on 5 April 2018 when a 30-second rocket firing accelerated Unity to a speed of Mach 1.87 and an altitude of 84,271 ft (25,686 m).3839 The first powered test flight of Unity exceeded the altitude of all powered test flights of its predecessor, Enterprise.40

VSS Unity VP-03, the first suborbital spaceflight of VSS Unity was successfully completed on 13 December 2018, surpassing the 50 miles (80 km) altitude considered the boundary of outer space by NASA and the United States Air Force.4142

Following its February 2019 flight to space, VSS Unity began to undergo modifications including installation of the commercial cabin, and changes to cockpit displays.43 Upon completion of these modifications, VSS Unity along with its carrier craft, VMS Eve, were moved to Spaceport America in New Mexico in February 2020.44 After completing two additional glide tests in New Mexico in May and June 2020, VSS Unity underwent final modifications to the commercial cabin45 and in July 2020, Virgin Galactic first publicly showed the interior of the spacecraft.46

Unity then continued the test flight program in the years 2020–2023. A notable flight occurred in 2021 when Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson flew aboard Unity to space. The final test flight (defined as final flight with only Virgin Galactic personnel onboard) was Virgin Galactic Unity 25 mission on 25 May 2023. The first operational flight of Unity (defined as the first flight flying passengers that were not Virgin Galactic employees) was Galactic 01 on 29 June 2023.

The flights of VSS Unity ended mid-2024 to focus the effort on the next generation Delta-class vehicles, expected for 2025–26.47

List of spaceflights by VSS Unity

VSS Unity flights into space (above 50 miles)
FlightDateOutcomeTop speedAltitudeCrew
VSS Unity VP-0313 December 2018SuccessMach 2.9 4882.72 km (51.40 mi)Mark P. Stucky and Frederick W. Sturckow
VSS Unity VF-0122 February 2019SuccessMach 3.04 4989.9 km (55.9 mi) 50Dave Mackay, Michael Masucci, and Beth Moses (passenger)
VSS Unity VF-0212 December 2020, 16:15 UTC (aborted)51Aborted prior to ignitionN/AN/ADave Mackay and Frederick W. Sturckow. Attempted spaceflight52
VSS Unity 2122 May 2021, 15:26 UTCSuccessMach 389.2 km (55.4 mi)Dave Mackay and Frederick W. Sturckow53
VSS Unity 2211 July 2021, 15:04 UTCSuccess54Mach 3.286 km (53 mi)David Mackay, Michael Masucci, Sirisha Bandla, Colin Bennett, Beth Moses and Richard Branson
VSS Unity Unity 2525 May 2023, 16:23 UTC55SuccessMach 2.945687.2 km (54.2 mi)Michael Masucci, Frederick W. Sturckow, Beth Moses, Luke Mays, Jamila Gilbert, Christopher Huie
Galactic 0129 June 2023, 15:28 UTC57SuccessMach 2.8885.1 km (52.9 mi)Michael Masucci, Nicola Pecile, Walter Villadei, Angelo Landolfi, Pantaleone Carlucci and Colin Bennett
Galactic 0210 August 2023, 15:17 UTC58SuccessMach 3.0088.5 km (55.0 mi)CJ Sturckow, Kelly Latimer, Beth Moses, Jon Goodwin, Keisha Schahaff, Anastatia Mayers
Galactic 038 September 2023, 15:22 UTC59SuccessMach 2.9588.6 km (55.1 mi)Michael Masucci, Nicola Pecile, Beth Moses, Timothy Nash, Ken Baxter, Adrian Reynard60
Galactic 046 October 2023, 16:10 UTC61SuccessMach 2.9587.4 km (54.3 mi)Kelly Latimer, CJ Sturckow, Beth Moses, Ron Rosano, Trevor Beattie, Namira Salim
Galactic 052 November 2023, 15:44 UTC62SuccessMach 2.9687.2 km (54.2 mi)Michael Masucci, Kelly Latimer, Colin Bennett, Alan Stern, Kellie Gerardi, Ketty Maisonrouge
Galactic 0626 January 2024, 17:42 UTC63SuccessMach 2.9888.8 km (55.2 mi)CJ Sturckow, Nicola Pecile, Lina Borozdina, Robie Vaughn, Franz Haider, Neil Kornswiet
Galactic 078 June 2024SuccessMach 2.9687.5 km (54.4 mi)Nicola Pecile, Jameel Janjua, Tuva Cihangir Atasever, Giorgio Manenti, Irving (Yitzhak) Pergament, Andy Sadhwani Final Unity flight

Full list of flights

This section is an excerpt from List of Virgin Galactic launches § VSS Unity flights.[edit]

Legend
CodeDetail
GFxxGlide Flight
CCxxCaptive Carry Flight
CFxxCold Flow Flight
PFxxPowered Flight
FxxFeathering deployed
Flights
Flight designationDateDurationMaximum altitudeTop speedPilot / co-pilot / passengersNotes
01 / CC018 September 201615.2 km (50,000 ft)Stucky / Mackay64
02 / CC021 November 2016Strong winds, no release during flight intended as GF0165
03 / CC033 November 2016Strong winds, no release during second attempt at GF01
04 / CC0430 November 2016Test of minor modifications
05 / GF013 December 201610 minutes6616.8 km (55,000 ft)Mach 0.6Stucky / MackayFirst Glide Flight67686970
06 / GF0222 December 2016Stucky / Mackay71
07 / GF0324 February 2017Sturckow / Mackay3rd Glide Flight
08 / GF041 May 2017Stucky / MasucciF0172
09 / CF011 June 2017Mackay / Sturckow73
10 / GF064 August 2017Mackay / SturckowFirst flight with major propulsion components aboard.7475
11 / GF0711 January 2018Mach 0.9Stucky / Masucci76777879
12 / PF015 April 201825.7 km (84,300 ft)Mach 1.87Stucky / MackayF0280
13 / PF0229 May 201834.9 km (114,501 ft)8182Mach 1.9Mackay / StuckyTest of changed center of gravity as passenger seats carried for first time. F0383
14 / PF0326 July 201852.1 km (170,800 ft)84Mach 2.4785Mackay / Masucci86Reached Mesosphere for first time.87
15 / VP-0313 December 201882.7 km (271,330 ft)Mach 2.988Stucky / SturckowReached outer space for first time according to the US definition of the space border.89
16 / VF-0122 February 201989.9 km (295,007 ft)9091Mach 3.04 92Mackay / Masucci / Moses93Carried third crew member (1 in the passenger cabin) for the first time 94
17 / GF081 May 202015.24 km (50,000 ft)95Mach 0.7 96Mackay / Sturckow 97First flight from New Mexico 98
18 / GF0925 June 202015.54 km (51,000 ft)99Mach 0.85 100Stucky / Masucci 101
1912 December 2020Mackay / SturckowFirst attempted crewed spaceflight from New Mexico, aborted due to computer malfunction, engine ignited and automatically turned off.102
21 / VF-0322 May 202189.23 km (55.45 mi)Mackay / SturckowFirst crewed spaceflight (above 50 miles) from New Mexico103
2211 July 202186.1 km (53.5 mi)104Mackay / Masucci / Sirisha Bandla, Colin Bennett, Beth Moses, Richard BransonFirst fully crewed105 flight included Richard Branson.
24 / GF1026 April 20239 minutes13.5 km (47,000 ft)Sturckow / Pecile106
2525 May 202314 minutes87.2 km (54.2 mi)Mach 2.94Masucci / Sturckow / Moses / Mays / Gilbert / Huie107108
Galactic 0129 June 202313:50 minutes85.1 km (52.9 mi)Mach 2.88Masucci / Pecile / Villadei / Carlucci / Pandolfi / BennettFirst VSS Unity commercial service flight, carrying members of the Italian Air Force.109
Galactic 0210 August 202315:38 minutes88.5 km (55.0 mi)Mach 3.00Sturckow / Latimer / Moses / Goodwin / Schahaff / MayersFirst VSS Unity flight carrying a private astronaut.110
Galactic 038 September 202312:37 minutes88.6 km (55.1 mi)Mach 2.95Masucci / Pecile / Moses / Baxter / Reynard / Nash111
Galactic 046 October 202314:23 minutes87.4 km (54.3 mi)Mach 2.95Latimer / Sturckow / Moses / Rosano / Beattie / Salim112
Galactic 052 November 202314:20 minutes87.2 km (54.2 mi)Mach 2.96Masucci / Latimer / Bennett / Stern / Gerardi / Maisonrouge113
Galactic 0626 January 202488.8 km (55.2 mi)Mach 2.98Sturckow / Pecile / Borozdina / Vaughn / Haider / Kornswiet
Galactic 078 June 202487.5 km (54.4 mi)Mach 2.96Pecile / Janjua / Atasever/ Manenti /Pergament / SadhwaniFinal Unity flight

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to VSS Unity.

Notes

References

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  18. "N202VG is Reserved". FAA. 11 September 2014. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 5 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141106121323/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=202VG ↩

  19. "Virgin Galactic 'to test new craft by end of year'". The Telegraph (London). 21 April 2015. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/11551234/Virgin-Galactic-to-test-new-craft-by-end-of-year.html ↩

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  28. Dean, Lewis (31 October 2014). "Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo Crash: Pilot Dies After 'Serious' In-Flight Problem". International Business Times. Retrieved 9 November 2015. http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/virgin-galactic-spaceshiptwo-pilot-dies-after-serious-flight-problem-1472637 ↩

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  49. @virgingalactic (22 February 2019). "Mach 3.0" (Tweet) – via Twitter. https://x.com/virgingalactic/status/1098989513655742464 ↩

  50. Grush, Loren (22 February 2019). "Virgin Galactic spaceplane reaches space with first passenger on board". The Verge. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2023. https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/22/18232354/virgin-galactic-vss-unity-spaceplane-test-spaceflight-passenger-beth-moses ↩

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  52. "VSS Unity aborts after engine start, safely lands with crew back at Spaceport America". 12 December 2020. Retrieved 23 May 2021. https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/12/new-mexico-joins-human-spaceflight-with-unity-flight/ ↩

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  54. The flight was initially claimed to be successful but it was later revealed Unity briefly stepped outside the airspace that had been reserved for it and the FAA were not informed as required. The FAA grounded Virgin Galactic's space planes before allowing a resumption of flights after some changes to procedures including reserving a larger volume of airspace.[49] ↩

  55. "Virgin Galactic is GO for launch". Virgin Galactic (Press release). 17 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023. https://www.virgingalactic.com/news/virgin-galactic-is-a-go-for-launch/ ↩

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  57. Jonathan McDowell [@planet4589] (29 June 2023). "Galactic 01 stats: launch 1528:38 UTC, apogee 85.1 km, flight time from drop to main gear touchdown 13m50s. Drop location EBR P3 in my launch points list (107.0W 33.3N)" (Tweet) – via Twitter. /wiki/Jonathan_McDowell ↩

  58. Jonathan McDowell [@planet4589] (10 August 2023). "I don't quite agree with these numbers. I have takeoff of White Knight 2 at 1429:45 UTC (in agreement with their 8.30 am MDT) but landing of SS2 at 1532:48 UTC (9.32 am MDT). Release time 1517:10 UTC and SS2 free flight time 15:38 with apogee 88.5 km" (Tweet) – via Twitter. https://x.com/planet4589/status/1689783764639961089 ↩

  59. Jonathan McDowell [@planet4589] (8 September 2023). "Virgin Galactic few Spaceship Two mission Galactic 03 on Sep 8. VMS Eve took off at 1434 UTC and dropped VSS Unity over the usual drop point (EBR P3 in my list) at about 1522:13 UTC. Unity boosted to 88.6 km apogee and landed at Spaceport America at 1535 UTC" (Tweet) – via Twitter. https://x.com/planet4589/status/1700249597845913634 ↩

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  63. Jonathan McDowell [@planet4589] (26 January 2024). "The @VirginGalactic Galactic 06 mission was launched from the WK02 carrier plane at 1742:05 UTC Jan 26 following takeoff around 1700 UTC. After a one minute rocket burn, SS2 reached an apogee of 88.8 km and landed after an approximately 14 minute free flight. (1/2)" (Tweet) – via Twitter. https://x.com/planet4589/status/1750973689204764824 ↩

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  100. "Virgin Galactic's SpaceshipTwo Completes Second Flight From Spaceport America". www.virgingalactic.com. Retrieved 25 June 2020. https://www.virgingalactic.com/articles/virgin-galactics-spaceshiptwo-completes-second-flight-from-spaceport-america/ ↩

  101. "Virgin Galactic's SpaceshipTwo Completes Second Flight From Spaceport America". www.virgingalactic.com. Retrieved 25 June 2020. https://www.virgingalactic.com/articles/virgin-galactics-spaceshiptwo-completes-second-flight-from-spaceport-america/ ↩

  102. Gebhardt, Chris; Burghardt, Thomas (12 December 2020). "VSS Unity aborts after engine start, safely lands with crew back at Spaceport America". https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/12/new-mexico-joins-human-spaceflight-with-unity-flight/ ↩

  103. "Virgin Galactic rocket plane flies to edge of space". BBC News. 22 May 2021. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-57214988 ↩

  104. "Virgin Galactic Successfully Completes First Fully Crewed Spaceflight". 11 July 2021. https://www.virgingalactic.com/articles/virgin-galactic-successfully-completes-first-fully-crewed-spaceflight ↩

  105. The SpaceShipTwo vehicles (like VSS Unity) were originally designed for 8 people, 6 passengers and 2 pilots, so whether this flight was fully-crewed is debatable. But it is true that at the time of this flight, only 6 seats (4 passengers, 2 pilots) were installed in VSS Unity, so in this sense this flight was fully-crewed. Also, no SpaceShipTwo vehicle, VSS Unity in particular, ever had more than 6 seats installed and never flew with more than 6 people (2 pilots, 4 passengers) onboard, so in this sense this flight was also fully-crewed. /wiki/SpaceShipTwo ↩

  106. "Virgin Galactic completes glide flight from Spaceport America". Virgin Galactic (Press release). 26 April 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2023. https://www.virgingalactic.com/news/virgin-galactic-completes-glide-flight-from-spaceport-america/ ↩

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  109. Jonathan McDowell [@planet4589] (29 June 2023). "Galactic 01 stats: launch 1528:38 UTC, apogee 85.1 km, flight time from drop to main gear touchdown 13m50s. Drop location EBR P3 in my launch points list (107.0W 33.3N)" (Tweet) – via Twitter. https://x.com/planet4589/status/1674445777425293312 ↩

  110. Jonathan McDowell [@planet4589] (10 August 2023). "I don't quite agree with these numbers. I have takeoff of White Knight 2 at 1429:45 UTC (in agreement with their 8.30 am MDT) but landing of SS2 at 1532:48 UTC (9.32 am MDT). Release time 1517:10 UTC and SS2 free flight time 15:38 with apogee 88.5 km" (Tweet) – via Twitter. https://x.com/planet4589/status/1689783764639961089 ↩

  111. "Core memory unlocked. Welcome to space, #Galactic03. Congratulations, 014, 015, and 016!". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 8 September 2023. https://twitter.com/virgingalactic/status/1700170319343112596?s=20 ↩

  112. "Virgin Galactic completes fifth successful flight in five months". Virgin Galactic (Press release). 6 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023. https://www.virgingalactic.com/news/virgin-galactic-completes-fifth-successful-spaceflight-in-five-months ↩

  113. "Virgin Galactic Completes Sixth Successful Spaceflight in Six Months". Virgin Galactic (Press release). 2 November 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023. https://www.virgingalactic.com/news/virgin-galactic-completes-sixth-successful-spaceflight-in-six-months ↩