Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. has revealed that a routine post-flight assessment following the recent ‘Galactic 06’ spaceflight uncovered a detachment of an alignment pin from the launch pylon of their mothership, VMS Eve. The company promptly reported the incident to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on January 31, adhering to regulatory protocols, and is currently collaborating with the FAA for a thorough review.
Despite the alignment pin detachment, ‘Galactic 06’ was deemed a secure and successful flight, conducted in strict accordance with Virgin Galactic’s robust flight procedures. Importantly, the detached alignment pin did not pose any safety risks to the vehicles or the onboard crew. Virgin Galactic’s flights are conducted in restricted airspace and specific geographical launch locations, ensuring controlled hazards on the ground. No damage was observed on either the spaceship or the mothership.
The alignment pin is a crucial component for ensuring proper alignment between the spaceship and the mothership during ground pre-flight procedures. During mated flight, it facilitates the transfer of drag and other forces from the spaceship to the shear pin fitting assembly, the pylon, and the center wing of the mothership. The shear pin fitting assembly remained intact on the mothership, with no damage reported. While both the alignment pin and shear pin fitting assembly play essential roles during mated flight, they do not support the spaceship’s weight and become inactive once the spaceship is released.
It’s noteworthy that the alignment pin and shear pin fitting assembly functioned as designed during the mated portion of the flight, with only the alignment pin detaching after the spaceship’s release from the mothership.
Virgin Galactic assures a comprehensive update upon the completion of the review and will confirm the flight window for the upcoming ‘Galactic 07’ mission, scheduled for the second quarter of 2024.
About Virgin Galactic
Virgin Galactic is an aerospace and space travel company, pioneering human spaceflight for private individuals and researchers with its advanced air and space vehicles. Scale and profitability are driven by next generation vehicles capable of bringing humans to space at an unprecedented frequency with an industry-leading cost structure. You can find more information at https://www.virgingalactic.com.