{"id":19058,"date":"2017-02-25T01:21:12","date_gmt":"2017-02-24T17:21:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/star-studded-cast-watches-virgin-galactics-spaceshiptwo-glide-through-test-flight\/"},"modified":"2017-02-25T01:21:12","modified_gmt":"2017-02-24T17:21:12","slug":"star-studded-cast-watches-virgin-galactics-spaceshiptwo-glide-through-test-flight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/star-studded-cast-watches-virgin-galactics-spaceshiptwo-glide-through-test-flight\/","title":{"rendered":"Star-studded cast watches Virgin Galactic\u2019s SpaceShipTwo glide through test flight"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"SpaceShipTwo
SpaceShipTwo is nestled between the two fuselages of its White Knight Two carrier airplane before the glide test. (Virgin Galactic Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Virgin Galactic\u2019s SpaceShipTwo rocket plane glided through its third free-flying test run today, and although it hasn\u2019t yet lit up its engine, there was a high-powered crowd to fuel the excitement at California\u2019s Mojave Air and Space Port.<\/p>\n

The company\u2019s billionaire founder, Richard Branson, was in attendance, as was his son, Sam Branson. Brian Cox, the British physicist and TV host, was there as well.<\/p>\n

Cox is working on a documentary for the BBC and the Smithsonian Channel titled \u201cThe Quest for Space,\u201d and today\u2019s test is likely to provide grist for the show. For what it\u2019s worth, Cox is scheduled to pay a visit to Blue Origin\u2019s headquarters in Kent, Wash., next week.<\/p>\n

Virgin Galactic\u2019s unpowered glide tests begin with a twin-fuselage mothership, White Knight Two, taking off with SpaceShipTwo attached underneath. When the White Knight reaches the right altitude, SpaceShipTwo is released to glide down to a landing at Mojave.<\/p>\n