SpaceShipTwo

Lore & Background

The first SpaceShipTwo, VSS Enterprise, was destroyed in a crash on 31 October 2014 during a test flight, after its descent device deployed too early, killing co-pilot Michael Alsbury and seriously injuring pilot Peter Siebold. The second spacecraft, VSS Unity, was unveiled on 19 February 2016 and flew its first spaceflight (above 50 miles) on 13 December 2018. Its first operational flight with non-employee passengers was Galactic 01 on 29 June 2023, and its final flight was Galactic 07 on 8 June 2024.

Reader's Guide

SpaceShipTwo represents a significant step in private suborbital spaceflight, bridging the gap between experimental vehicles like SpaceShipOne and a commercial passenger service. Though it never exceeded 100 km altitude, it carried paying passengers and scientific payloads for NASA and other organizations, demonstrating the viability of air-launched, reusable spaceplanes. The program faced major setbacks, including a fatal crash in 2014 and engine development delays, but ultimately achieved operational flights. Its retirement in 2024, as Virgin Galactic shifted focus to Delta-class vehicles, marks the end of an era for this specific design. The spaceplane's feathered reentry system and hybrid rocket engine were key innovations, though safety concerns persisted, as noted by designer Burt Rutan. The fleet consisted of only two completed and flown vehicles: Enterprise and Unity.

Did You Know?

• SpaceShipTwo was carried to launch altitude by a White Knight Two mothership before being released to fly under rocket power.
• The first SpaceShipTwo, VSS Enterprise, broke up in flight on 31 October 2014 due to premature deployment of its descent device, killing co-pilot Michael Alsbury.
• The maximum altitude reached by any SpaceShipTwo was 89.9 km, below the 100 km Kármán line.
• The spaceplane's crew cabin was 3.7 m long and 2.3 m in diameter, with 43 and 33 cm diameter windows for passengers.