Second SpaceShipTwo to fly in 2015

Second SpaceShip2 under assembly image:Virgin Glactics After the tragic loss of the first SpaceShipTwo called Enterprise, during its 55...

Second SpaceShip2 under assembly image:Virgin Glactics

After the tragic loss of the first SpaceShipTwo called Enterprise, during its 55th test flight, Virgin Galactics is advancing the assembly of the yet to be named second SpaceShipTwo.

The spaceplane is more than 65 percent assembled and 90% structurally complete.

Virgin expects to commence flight testing in 2015.

The winged reusable SpaceShipTwo is designed to repeatedly carry as many as eight people (including two pilots) into space — suborbital flights.

SpaceShipTwo will accelerate to approximately three and a half times the speed of sound, using its hybrid rocket engine after being released from the mother aircraft WhiteKnight at around 50000 ft to reach sub orbit.

Preliminary investigation findings by NTSB into the Oct 31 crash, indicated that that SS2’s wings feathered (folded up) prematurely, during the boost phase rather than during gliding or re-entry phase, creating excessive forces on the carbon composite air frame that led to the craft’s break up.