{"id":27560,"date":"2023-05-28T10:44:59","date_gmt":"2023-05-28T14:44:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.monsffa.ca\/?p=27560"},"modified":"2023-05-28T10:44:59","modified_gmt":"2023-05-28T14:44:59","slug":"rocket-plane-returns-to-spaceflight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.monsffa.ca\/?p=27560","title":{"rendered":"Rocket plane returns to spaceflight"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 id=\"edr_survey\">Virgin Galactic: Sir Richard Branson&#8217;s rocket plane returns to spaceflight<\/h2>\n<div id=\"root\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-181c4hk-SectionWrapper eustbbg0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-4rxmy3-PageStack e1mcntqj2\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-l6cntj-ContentStack e1mcntqj0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-irv5dn-Zone e1mcntqj4\">\n<header id=\"header-content\" data-testid=\"header-content\">\n<nav class=\"ssrcss-1a6al6l-ChameleonGlobalNavigation e140xmwz0\" aria-label=\"BBC\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1ocoo3l-Wrap e42f8511\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-vvyq0-GlobalNavigationContent e1gviwgp25\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1f4spe2-ImageWrapper e8mq1e911\"><a class=\"ssrcss-dkv2k4-NavigationLink-LogoLink e1gviwgp14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\"><span class=\"ssrcss-fj0f8c-LogoIconWrapper e1gviwgp10\"><span class=\"visually-hidden ssrcss-1f39n02-VisuallyHidden e1y6uwnp0\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-l6cntj-ContentStack e1mcntqj0\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1ocoo3l-Wrap e42f8511\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-q03fby-ContainerWithSidebarWrapper e1jl38b40\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1ki8hfp-StyledZone e1mcntqj3\"><main id=\"main-content\" data-testid=\"main-content\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"ssrcss-pv1rh6-ArticleWrapper e1nh2i2l6\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1bdte2-BylineComponentWrapper e8mq1e90\" data-component=\"byline-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-qt5zqv-BylineWrapper e8mq1e917\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-19r1h8t-ContributorContainer e8mq1e916\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1qc7pto-Container-ContributorDetails e8mq1e913\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-68pt20-Text-TextContributorName e8mq1e96\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-84ltp5-Text e8mq1e910\">By Jonathan Amos,\u00a0BBC Science Correspondent<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-84ltp5-Text e8mq1e910\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-1q14p6q-LinkWithChevronContainer e8mq1e91\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\"><b class=\"ssrcss-hmf8ql-BoldText e5tfeyi3\">Sir Richard Branson&#8217;s Virgin Galactic rocket plane is back in action after a gap of almost two years.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">The Unity vehicle, with two pilots and four passengers aboard, climbed high over the New Mexico desert to the edge of space &#8211; before gliding back down.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">It was billed as the plane&#8217;s final test outing before entering commercial service in June.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Galactic has sold over 800 tickets to individuals who want to ride more than 80km (260,000ft) above Earth.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">The company expects to start working through this passenger list with Unity flights initially occurring at the rate of one a month. New rocket planes are being designed for service in 2026 that should each be capable of increasing the cadence to one a week.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-xza2yt-ComponentWrapper ep2nwvo1\" data-component=\"image-block\">\n<figure class=\"ssrcss-wpgbih-StyledFigure e34k3c23\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-ab5fd8-StyledFigureContainer e34k3c21\"><span class=\"ssrcss-136unox-Placeholder e16icw910\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/16DA7\/production\/_129870639_virgin_galactic_flight_path_2x640-nc.png.webp 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/16DA7\/production\/_129870639_virgin_galactic_flight_path_2x640-nc.png.webp 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/16DA7\/production\/_129870639_virgin_galactic_flight_path_2x640-nc.png.webp 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/16DA7\/production\/_129870639_virgin_galactic_flight_path_2x640-nc.png.webp 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/16DA7\/production\/_129870639_virgin_galactic_flight_path_2x640-nc.png.webp 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/16DA7\/production\/_129870639_virgin_galactic_flight_path_2x640-nc.png.webp 976w\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"ssrcss-evoj7m-Image ee0ct7c0\" src=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/1024\/cpsprodpb\/16DA7\/production\/_129870639_virgin_galactic_flight_path_2x640-nc.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/240\/cpsprodpb\/16DA7\/production\/_129870639_virgin_galactic_flight_path_2x640-nc.png 240w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/320\/cpsprodpb\/16DA7\/production\/_129870639_virgin_galactic_flight_path_2x640-nc.png 320w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/16DA7\/production\/_129870639_virgin_galactic_flight_path_2x640-nc.png 480w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/16DA7\/production\/_129870639_virgin_galactic_flight_path_2x640-nc.png 624w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/800\/cpsprodpb\/16DA7\/production\/_129870639_virgin_galactic_flight_path_2x640-nc.png 800w, https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/976\/cpsprodpb\/16DA7\/production\/_129870639_virgin_galactic_flight_path_2x640-nc.png 976w\" alt=\"Flight profile\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1052.8\" \/><\/picture><\/span><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">Unity is a sub-orbital vehicle. This means it can&#8217;t achieve the velocity and altitude necessary to keep it up in space to circle the globe.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\">\n<p class=\"ssrcss-1q0x1qg-Paragraph eq5iqo00\">The spaceship is designed to give its passengers stunning views at the top of its climb, and allow them a few minutes to experience weightlessness.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"ssrcss-11r1m41-RichTextComponentWrapper ep2nwvo0\" data-component=\"text-block\">\n<div class=\"ssrcss-7uxr49-RichTextContainer e5tfeyi1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/main><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><strong>Click <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/science-environment-65714340\">https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/science-environment-65714340<\/a> to read the full article with video and pictures.<\/strong><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Virgin Galactic: Sir Richard Branson&#8217;s rocket plane returns to spaceflight By Jonathan Amos,\u00a0BBC Science Correspondent Sir Richard Branson&#8217;s Virgin Galactic rocket plane is back in action after a gap of almost two years. The Unity vehicle, with two pilots and four passengers aboard, climbed high over the New Mexico desert to the edge of space &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.monsffa.ca\/?p=27560\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Rocket plane returns to spaceflight<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":645,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[752],"tags":[1718,1717],"class_list":["post-27560","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-space-travel-exploration","tag-unity","tag-virgin-galactic"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monsffa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27560","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monsffa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monsffa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monsffa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/645"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monsffa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=27560"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.monsffa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27560\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27561,"href":"https:\/\/www.monsffa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27560\/revisions\/27561"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.monsffa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=27560"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monsffa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=27560"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.monsffa.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=27560"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}