{"id":18423,"date":"2018-07-26T20:58:50","date_gmt":"2018-07-26T12:58:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/spaceshiptwo-rocket-plane-pushes-the-envelope-in-third-supersonic-test-flight\/"},"modified":"2018-07-26T20:58:50","modified_gmt":"2018-07-26T12:58:50","slug":"spaceshiptwo-rocket-plane-pushes-the-envelope-in-third-supersonic-test-flight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/spaceshiptwo-rocket-plane-pushes-the-envelope-in-third-supersonic-test-flight\/","title":{"rendered":"SpaceShipTwo rocket plane pushes the envelope in third supersonic test flight"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Virgin
Virgin Galactic\u2019s SpaceShipTwo rocket plane, VSS Unity, fires up its hybrid rocket motor during a supersonic test flight. (MarsScientific.com and Trumbull Studios via Virgin Galactic)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Virgin Galactic sent its SpaceShipTwo rocket plane, VSS Unity, to its highest-ever altitude today during its third powered test flight \u2014 setting the stage for a full-powered push across the boundary of outer space.<\/p>\n

Unity was hooked beneath its WhiteKnightTwo carrier airplane this morning for takeoff from Mojave Air and Space Port in California. About an hour into the flight, the rocket plane was dropped into the air and fired its single hybrid rocket motor, punching upward into the sky.<\/p>\n

Virgin Galactic reported that the craft executed a 42-second rocket burn and hit a top speed of Mach 2.47. Maximum altitude was 170,800 feet (32 miles, or 52 kilometers). That\u2019s higher than high-altitude balloons can fly, and more than halfway to outer space.<\/p>\n

VSS Unity\u2019s two previous rocket-powered flights involved shorter rocket burns and rose no higher than 114,500 feet.<\/p>\n

On the way down, Unity deployed its \u201cfeathered-wing\u201d re-entry system to slow its descent. Peak re-entry speed was Mach 1.7, marking the first time Unity went supersonic on the way down.<\/p>\n