Submitted via IRC for Fnord666_
Virgin Galactic conducted another test of its VSS Unity, taking it out on a third rocket-powered supersonic flight this morning. After being released from the VMS Eve carrier craft, the VSS Unity flew higher than it has previously, reaching a peak altitude of 170,800 feet and entering the mesosphere for the first time. It also reached speeds of Mach 2.47 during its 42 second rocket burn.
The VSS Unity replaced Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo, which crashed in 2014, killing one of its pilots.
[...] The company says that tests like the one performed today allow it to collect cabin data like temperature, pressure, thermal response, vibration and radiation.
Source: https://www.engadget.com/2018/07/26/virgin-galactic-vss-unity-mach-2-third-test-flight/
(Score: 3, Funny) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Saturday July 28 2018, @12:56PM (3 children)
That would totally suck if they experienced "a loss of cabin pressure" while traversing the mesophere.
SR71s don't go into space yet their pilots do wear space suits.
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 28 2018, @06:19PM (1 child)
It would totally suck too if an airliner lost cabin pressure while at cruise altitude. The solution is don't lose cabin pressure.
(Score: 2) by isostatic on Saturday July 28 2018, @07:43PM
2 weeks ago: https://www.ibtimes.co.in/loss-cabin-pressure-forces-ryanair-land-frankfurt-33-passengers-hospitalised-774947 [ibtimes.co.in]
Last month: https://loyaltylobby.com/2018/07/11/air-china-hong-kong-dalian-flight-deploys-oxygen-masks-drops-25000-ft-after-loss-of-cabin-pressure/ [loyaltylobby.com]
Planes lose pressure. The backup plans are in place. Everyone is happy.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday July 28 2018, @08:19PM
I see what you did there.