- Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc. announced on Monday that an alignment pin had become detached from a portion of the mothership-launching apparatus during a recent spaceflight. However, the company assured that there was no safety impact on the spaceships, the on-board crew, or people on the ground.
Detected Issue and Response
The problem was discovered during a routine post-flight review following the Galactic 06 flight last month. Virgin Galactic promptly reported the issue to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and is currently conducting its own internal review.
Safety Measures and Observations
All Virgin Galactic flights are conducted in restricted airspace and specific geographical launch locations that prioritize the safety of individuals and structures on the ground. The company reassured that there had been no damage to the spaceship or the mothership.
Communication with the FAA
Virgin Galactic notified the FAA of the detachment issue last Wednesday; however, it remains unclear why the company waited until Monday to disclose this information to the public.
Upcoming Updates and Mission Plans
The company plans to provide further updates at the conclusion of its review and will confirm the flight window for the Galactic 07 mission, scheduled for the second quarter of 2024.
Galactic 06 Flight Details
Virgin Galactic's Galactic 06 flight was its 11th mission and carried four paying customers into space. Notably, it marked the first time that all four seats aboard the spaceship were occupied by space tourists.
Stock Performance
Following the announcement, shares of Virgin Galactic experienced a slight increase in after-hours trading on Monday, compensating for the earlier 4.6% decline during regular trading hours. However, over the past 12 months, Virgin Galactic's stock has seen a decrease of more than 72%, in contrast to the approximately 20% gains made by the S&P 500 index.
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