Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo Passes the Test

Sir Richard Branson & Forger, aka Mark Stucky congratulate each other after the success of Virgin Galactic's first rocket-powered flight that broke the sound barrier in a test over the Mojave Desert.

by

May 1, 2013

This event was “without any doubt, our single most important flight test to date,” said Virgin Galactic Founder Sir Richard Branson, who was on hand to witness the flight.

Leadership masterclass: Nike, Jordan, and James Baldwin

George Raveling — the iconic leader who brought Michael Jordan to Nike — shares with Big Think a lifetime of priceless wisdom learned at the crossroads of sports and business.

14 articles

Man in glasses and a brown jacket with a serious expression; the background features a blue overlay adorned with white sports strategy symbols and a cheering crowd. It's reminiscent of a Coach Raveling masterclass, where every move is meticulously planned.

Related Content

The Present

Virgin Galactic passenger rocket reaches space in test flight

The rocket reached an altitude of 51 miles, meeting the Federal Aviation Administration's definition of space.

by Stephen Johnson

Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo Passes Big Test

In the video below, watch as SpaceShipTwo's hybrid rocket motor powers the spacecraft to a top speed of Mach 1.4, or 1.4 times the speed of sound.

by bigthinkeditor

Watch: Virgin Galactic Successful Test Flight

SpaceShipTwo's second rocket powered test flight reached supersonic speeds of over 1,000 mph.

by bigthinkeditor

Surprising Science

Private Space Plane Breaks Sound Barrier, a First Since the Concorde

The day marked the first time a commercial plane broke the sound barrier since the supersonic Concorde was retired in 2003. Soon, Virgin's craft will be travelling faster than the Concorde.

by Orion Jones

Learn from the world's biggest thinkers.

Philosophy

Science & Tech

Mind & Behavior

Business

History & Society