On Saturday, 22 May, aerospace company Virgin Galactic (NYSE: SPCE) conducted the first flight tests in two years. The aircraft carrier VMS Eve climbed to a height of 13.5 km, where released the VSS Unity spaceship. Piloted Unity, using your rocket engine, reached a height of 89 km, after which he landed on the runway of the spaceport in New Mexico.
During the flight, Unity was carrying three research payloads as part of a NASA-funded program.. In the second quarter, Virgin Galactic will be able to show the first revenue in almost a year and a half.
After Saturday's test, the company should conduct three more tests., to complete the development of their SpaceShipTwo system. During the second flight, in addition to the two pilots, the ship will have four passengers., and the third should involve Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson. The company may start commercial flights into space in 2022.
Previously, Virgin Galactic repeatedly postponed the test date due to equipment problems.. Last time - during the presentation of the quarterly report 10 May. Then the company's shares in three days fell by 15%.
20 May shares of Virgin Galactic rose sharply by 20% after that, as the head of the company, Michael Colglaser, announced the upcoming flight. Investors partially won back the news about successful tests, but stocks have room to grow: in February, the securities were worth 66% expensive - 62,8 $.
