VF-01

Launch Success

Liftoff Time (GMT)

16:53:40

Friday February 22, 2019

Mission Details

Launch Notes

First flight of SpaceShipTwo with a passenger. While the test flight was successful, post-flight inspections found a serious issue with the horizontal stabilizer that could have led to a catastrophic failure, according to the Washington Post.

VF-01

VSS Unity VF-01 was a sub-orbital spaceflight of the SpaceShipTwo-class VSS Unity piloted by David Mackay and co-piloted by Mike Masucci. VF-01 was a demonstration of the craft's ability to carry passengers. Virgin Galactic's chief astronaut trainer Beth Moses acted as a test passenger, evaluating the experience for potential customers. Unity reached an altitude of 89.9 kilometers during the test.