Virgin Galactic's passenger aircraft SpaceShipTwo was forced to abort a test flight on Saturday after a technical malfunction, with the two pilots returning to Earth safely, the company said.

Richard Branson's space tourism company, which is preparing for commercial flights next year, was testing its customer cabin, horizontal stabilizers and flight controls.

"The ignition sequence for the rocket motor did not complete. Vehicle and crew are in great shape," Virgin Galactic said on Twitter.

SpaceShipTwo took off from the Spaceport America base in New Mexico Saturday afternoon, but the two pilots had to turn around and landed just over an hour later.

"Pilots and vehicles back safe and sound," the company said.

It added later: "We have several motors ready at Spaceport America. We will check the vehicle and be back to flight soon."

SpaceShipTwo is expected to take its first passengers into space in 2021.

So far, 600 people who have paid up to $250,000 -- Virgin Galactic calls them "future astronauts" -- have been waiting for years to take their seat.

SpaceShipTwo's development has been delayed by a devastating crash of the first one in 2014 due to a pilot error.

jul/acb/mjs

Twitter

Related Links
Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The Space Media Network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceMediaNetwork Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceMediaNetwork Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

Insulation for Ariane 6 launcher: Heat Protection against up to 1,500 degrees Celsius
Bern, Switzerland (SPX) Dec 10, 2020
In October RUAG Space, a leading supplier to the space industry, delivered a first flight model of the high-temperature insulation for the new European rocket Ariane 6. The insulation is being produced in the 2019 inaugurated new production floor in Berndorf, Austria, adjacent to the existing production facility. The new high-temperature insulation for Ariane 6 consists of ceramic felts and fabrics. It protects some components of the rocket engines of the launcher. "On its journey from earth to sp ... read more