SpaceShipTwo in flight on Dec. 19, 2012. (Credit: Virgin Galactic)
WhiteKnightTwo/SpaceShipTwo Test Summaries
Courtesy of Scaled Composites
| Flight: | 109/GF23 | ||||
| Date: | 19 Dec 12 | ||||
| WK2 Flight Time: | 1.6 hr | SS2 Flight Time: | 13 min, 24 sec | ||
| WK2 Pilot: | Colmer | WK2 CoPilot: | Nichols | WK2 FTE: | Lassen |
| SS2 Pilot: | Stucky | SS2 CoPilot: | Alsbury | ||
| GS Crew: |
Bourgeois, Glaser, Knupp, Bassett, Kalogiannis, Jaster, Zeeb, Gould, Binnie, Cassebeer, M. Fuchs, Verderame, Tighe, Withrow, Kroese | ||||
SS2 Objectives:
SS2 performance
Stability and control with new shortened aft skirt
Installed rocket motor systems and nozzle
Wing/strake Thermal Protection Systems (TPS)
PIO susceptibility evaluation with different flight control modes
SS2 Results:
Aero performance slightly better than expected and no negative issues identified. No PIO tendencies noted in loose formation flight. First co-pilot landing – congratulations Mike!
WK2 Objectives:
SS2 release mission
WK2 Results:
All objectives achieved.
| Flight: | 108/CC17 | ||||
| Date: | 13 Dec 12 | ||||
| Flight Time: | 1.5 hr | ||||
| WK2 Pilot: | Colmer | WK2 CoPilot: | Nichols | WK2 FTE: | Inks |
| SS2 Pilot: | Siebold | SS2 CoPilot: | Alsbury | ||
Objectives:
Glide flight rehearsal
RM2 preliminary systems checkout
WK2 fuel cooler data collection
FADS data collection
Results:
Objective complete.
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