Wed, Feb 07, 2024
Post-Flight Review Found An Alignment Pin Detached From The Mothership
Virgin Galactic has admitted that during 'routine post-flight reviews' following its most recent spaceflight, ‘Galactic 06,’ the Company became aware that an alignment pin detached from the launch pylon of our mothership, VMS Eve, during flight.
The Company notified the FAA on January 31 in accordance with regulations and is conducting a review in conjunction with the FAA.
The VG statement associated with this news asserts that "‘Galactic 06’ was a safe and successful flight that was conducted in accordance with Virgin Galactic’s rigorous flight procedures and protocols. At no time did the detached alignment pin pose a safety impact to the vehicles or the crew on board. Virgin Galactic flights occur in restricted airspace and at specific geographical launch locations that control the hazards to people or structures on the ground. The Company also observed no damage to the spaceship or the mothership."
The alignment pin helps ensure the spaceship is aligned to the mothership when mating the vehicles on the ground during pre-flight procedures. During mated flight, as the vehicles climb towards release altitude, the alignment pin helps transfer drag and other forces from the spaceship to the shear pin fitting assembly and into the pylon and center wing of the mothership. The shear pin fitting assembly remained both attached and intact on the mothership with no damage. While both parts play a role during mated flight, they do not support the spaceship’s weight, nor do they have an active function once the spaceship is released.
The alignment pin and shear pin fitting assembly reportedly performed as designed during the mated portion of the flight, and only the alignment pin detached after the spaceship was released from the mothership.
Virgin Galactic promises a further update at the completion of the review and will confirm the flight window for the ‘Galactic 07’ mission, which is planned for the second quarter of 2024.
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