Scaled Composites Conducts Another SpaceShipTwo Drop Test

SpaceShipTwo glides downward on its first test flight. (Photo: Mark Greenberg)

SpaceShipTwo had another drop test yesterday in Mojave, Calif. A flight summary follows:

Flight: WK2 Flight 45 / GF03

Date: 17 Nov 10 Flight Time: 2 hr / 11 min, 39 sec

WK2 Pilot: Stucky WK2 CoPilot: Alsbury WK2 FTE: Morgan

SS2 Pilot: Siebold SS2 CoPilot: Nichols

GS Crew: Binnie, Persall, Knupp, Inks, Bassett, Y. Fuchs, Maisler, Verderame, Zeitlin

Objectives: Clean release Evaluate stability and control Stall expansion Expand flutter envelope Aft CG expansion with water ballast tank Pilot proficiency

Results: All objectives achieved. Flew to a more aggressive stall indication. Expanded envelope to 246 KEAS and 3.5 g’s.?

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