Virgin Galactic, the space tourism company led by Richard Branson, was forced to abort its rocket’s first flight of 2024 due to a technical issue. During the recent spaceflight, known as Galactic 06, an alignment pin detached from the spacecraft, causing the flight to be grounded. The alignment pin is used to hold together the two parts of the Virgin Galactic spaceship: the mothership VMS Eve and the rocket that carries tourists into outer space.
Fortunately, the incident did not pose any safety risks to the eight people on board, which included four pilots and four paying passengers. All occupants of the spacecraft returned to the Virgin Galactic launch pad in New Mexico without any harm. The company only became aware of the detached pin during post-flight reviews.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that there were no injuries or damage to public property. However, the investigation into the mishap resulted in the grounding of the spacecraft. The FAA requires Virgin Galactic to submit a final report with corrective actions before approving future flights.
While the alignment pin plays a role in transferring forces during mated flight, it does not support the spacecraft’s weight or have an active function after release. The spacecraft typically remains attached to the mothership until it reaches an altitude of 45,000 feet.
Virgin Galactic, founded by Richard Branson in 2004, has been making strides in the space tourism industry. After successfully completing six trips beyond Earth’s atmosphere, the company is planning its seventh voyage for the second quarter of 2024.
This incident serves as a reminder of the technical challenges and safety precautions necessary for space travel. It highlights the importance of thorough pre-flight procedures and ongoing evaluations to ensure the well-being of astronauts and the success of future space tourism endeavors.
Virgin Galactic, tvrtka za svemirski turizam koju vodi Richard Branson, bila je prisiljena prekinuti prvi let rakete za 2024. godinu zbog tehničkih problema. Tijekom nedavnog svemirskog leta poznatog kao Galactic 06, jedan je pričvršćivač izletio iz svemirskog broda, što je dovelo do obustave leta. Pričvršćivač se koristi za povezivanje dvije dijela broda Virgin Galactic: matičnog broda VMS Eve i rakete koja nosi turiste u svemir.
Srećom, incident nije predstavljao nikakvu opasnost za osam ljudi koji su bili na brodu, uključujući četiri pilota i četiri plaćena putnika. Svi putnici svemirskog broda sretno su se vratili na lansirnu rampu Virgin Galactic u Novom Meksiku bez ikakve štete. Tvrtka je tek nakon leta saznala za pričvršćivač koji se izletio, tijekom post-leta pregleda.
Federalna uprava za civilno zrakoplovstvo potvrdila je da nije bilo ozlijeđenih niti oštećenja javne imovine. Međutim, istraga zbog ovog incidenta rezultirala je obustavom svemirskog broda. FAA zahtijeva da Virgin Galactic podnese završno izvješće s ispravnim mjerama prije nego što odobri buduće letove.
Iako pričvršćivač igra ulogu u prijenosu sila tijekom leta, on ne nosi težinu svemirskog broda niti ima aktivnu funkciju nakon ispustanja. Svemirski brod obično ostaje pričvršćen za matični brod dok ne dosegne visinu od 45.000 stopa.
Virgin Galactic, osnovan 2004. godine od strane Richarda Bransona, ostvaruje značajan napredak u industriji svemirskog turizma. Nakon uspješnog završetka šest putovanja izvan Zemljine atmosfere, tvrtka planira sedmo putovanje u drugom kvartalu 2024. godine.
Ovaj incident podsjeća na tehničke izazove i sigurnosne mjere potrebne za svemirsko putovanje. Ističe važnost temeljitih postupaka prije leta i kontinuiranih procjena kako bi se osiguralo dobrobit astronauta i uspjeh budućih nastojanja u svemirskom turizmu.