View source for VSS Enterprise

{{Short description|SpaceShipTwo (SS2) spaceplane}}
{{distinguish|USS Enterprise (disambiguation){{!}}USS Enterprise}}
{{Italic title prefixed|3}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name                 = VSS ''Enterprise'' (N339SS)
|image                = SpaceShip 2 VSS Enterprise.jpg<!-- SS2 and VMS Eve.jpg -->
|caption              = VSS ''Enterprise'', the first [[SpaceShipTwo]] spaceplane, attached to its carrier aircraft WhiteKnightTwo [[VMS Eve|VMS ''Eve'']]
|alt                  = <!-- Alt text for main image -->
|sole example of type?= n
|aircraft name        = <!-- Name given this aircraft (not its type). If no name given, use registration number, or however this individual aircraft is most usually identified -->
|other_names          = <!--Other names (nicknames, nose art names) this aircraft is known by-->
|type                 = [[Scaled Composites Model 339 SpaceShipTwo]]
|manufacturer         = [[Scaled Composites]]
|construction_number  = 1
|construction_date    =  <!-- either roll-out date or span of time for lengthy projects, whichever seems more appropriate -->
|civil_registration   = N339SS
|military_serial      = <!-- any military serial numbers carried by this aircraft -->
|radio_code           = <!-- military radio codes where this is a commonly used way of identifying this aircraft (eg. US, British, and German military aircraft of WWII -->
|first_flight         = 10 October 2010 (crewed gliding flight)
29 April 2013 (powered flight)
|owners               = [[Virgin Galactic]]
|in_service           = 
|status = [[2014 Virgin Galactic crash|Destroyed]]
|flights              = <!-- number of flights made by this aircraft, usually only relevant for an aircraft no longer flying -->
|total_hours          = <!-- total number of hours flown by this aircraft, usually only relevant for an aircraft no longer flying -->
|total_distance       = <!-- total distance flown by this aircraft, usually only relevant for an aircraft no longer flying -->
|fate                 = Crashed<br/>31 October 2014
|preservation         = <!-- where this aircraft is currently preserved (if it is) -->
}}'''VSS ''Enterprise''''' ([[Aircraft registration|tail number]]: '''N339SS'''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=339SS |title=FAA N Number Registration for "VSS Enterprise" |access-date=28 July 2008 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303180109/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=339SS |url-status=dead }}</ref>) was the first [[SpaceShipTwo]] (SS2) [[spaceplane]], built by [[Scaled Composites]] for [[Virgin Galactic]].  As of 2004, it was planned to be the first of five commercial suborbital SS2 spacecraft planned by Virgin Galactic.<ref name="AP-OfferPublicFlights">
{{cite news
| date = 27 September 2004
| url = http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/virgin_space_040927.html
| title = Virgin Galactic to Offer Public Space Flights
| work = Space.com
| agency = Associated Press
| access-date = 12 August 2008
}}</ref><ref name="Scaled Composites Projects">{{cite web
 |url          = http://www.scaled.com/projects/
 |title        = Scaled Composites PROJECTS
 |work         = Scaled.com
 |access-date   = 19 March 2010
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20170628171037/http://www.scaled.com/projects/
 |archive-date = 28 June 2017
 |url-status=dead
 |df           = dmy-all
}}</ref>{{update after|2014|11|8}}<!-- this was incorrectly stated; only the first flight article was constructed by Scaled.  [[The Spaceship Company]] is manufacturing no. 2, and is planned to mfg. nos. 3-5 also. -->
It was also the first ship of the Scaled Composites Model 339 SpaceShipTwo class, based on upscaling the design of record-breaking [[Scaled Composites SpaceShipOne|SpaceShipOne]].

The VSS ''Enterprise''{{'}}s name was an acknowledgement of the [[Starship Enterprise|USS ''Enterprise'']] from the ''[[Star Trek]]'' television series.<ref name="SpaceTourism-SS2">
{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.space-tourism.ws/spaceshiptwo.htm
 |title       = SpaceShipTwo
 |work        = SpaceTourism.ws
 |access-date  = 12 August 2008
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20081017160629/http://www.space-tourism.ws/spaceshiptwo.htm
 |archive-date = 17 October 2008
 |df          = dmy-all
}}</ref>  The spaceplane also shared its name with [[Space Shuttle Enterprise|NASA's prototype Space Shuttle orbiter]], as well as the [[aircraft carrier]] [[USS Enterprise (CVN-65)|USS ''Enterprise'']].
It was rolled out on 7 December 2009.<ref>
{{cite web
 |date        = 8 December 2009
 |url         = http://www.virgingalactic.com/news/item/spaceshiptwo-roll-out/
 |title       = SpaceShipTwo Roll Out
 |work        = Virgingalactic.com
 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20091213004607/http://www.virgingalactic.com/news/item/spaceshiptwo-roll-out
 |archive-date = 13 December 2009
 |df          = dmy-all
}}</ref>

SpaceShipTwo made its first powered flight in April 2013. [[Richard Branson]] said it "couldn't have gone more smoothly".<ref name="3news.co.nz">{{cite news| url= http://www.3news.co.nz/SpaceShipTwo-makes-first-powered-flight/tabid/1160/articleID/296027/Default.aspx| work= 3 News NZ| title= SpaceShipTwo makes first powered flight| date= 30 April 2013| access-date= 29 November 2018| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131230233726/http://www.3news.co.nz/SpaceShipTwo-makes-first-powered-flight/tabid/1160/articleID/296027/Default.aspx| archive-date= 30 December 2013|url-status=dead| df= dmy-all}}</ref>

[[VSS Enterprise crash|''Enterprise'' was destroyed]] during a powered [[test flight]] on 31 October 2014, killing one pilot, [[Michael Alsbury]], and seriously injuring another, [[Peter Siebold]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/2014/10/31/virgin-galactics-spaceshiptwo-suffers-anomaly-during-test-flight/|title=Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo rocket plane crashes on test flight|first=Stephen|last=Clark|publisher=SpaceflightNow|date=31 October 2014|access-date=31 October 2014}}</ref> This was the first spacecraft-related accident in which part, but not all, of the crew survived. An investigation revealed the accident was caused by premature deployment of the "feathering" system, the ship's descent device; the NTSB also faulted the spacecraft's design for lacking fail-safe mechanisms that could have deterred or prevented early deployment.<ref name="NYT-20141103-KC">{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |title=Investigators Focus on Tail Booms in Crash of Space Plane |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/04/business/international/virgin-galactic-plane-tail-booms-focus-of-investigation.html |date=3 November 2014 |work=[[New York Times]] |access-date=3 November 2014 }}</ref><ref name="APN-20141103-BM">{{cite news |last=Melley |first=Brian |title=Spaceship's descent device deployed prematurely |url=http://apnews.excite.com/article/20141103/us--space_tourism-e62024cd1f.html |date=3 November 2014 |work=[[AP News]] |access-date=3 November 2014 }}</ref><ref name="EnterpriseNTSBReport">{{cite web |url=https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-releases/Pages/PR20150728.aspx |title=Lack of Consideration for Human Factors Led to In-Flight Breakup of SpaceShipTwo |publisher=NTSB |date=28 July 2015 |access-date=29 July 2015}}</ref>

==Flight test program==
{{see also|VSS Unity#Test flight program}}
Initial projections by Virgin Galactic in 2008 called for test flights to begin in late 2009 and commercial service to start in 2011.<ref name=fi081221>{{cite web|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/12/21/320386/world-exclusive-video-spaceshiptwos-mothership-maiden.html |last= Coppinger |first= Rob |title=SpaceShipTwo's mothership maiden flight |date= 21 December 2008 |publisher=Flightglobal.com |access-date=25 March 2010}}</ref><ref name="Schwartz">
{{cite news
| last = Schwartz
| first = John
| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/science/space/23cnd-spaceship.html?hp
| title = New Tourist Spacecraft Unveiled
| work = [[New York Times]]
| date = 23 January 2008
| access-date = 12 August 2008
}}</ref>  This schedule was not achieved, with captive carry and glide [[flight test]]s beginning in 2010, and the first test flight under rocket power in 2013.

In October 2009, Virgin Galactic CEO Will Whitehorn outlined the flight test program for SpaceShipTwo. The test program includes seven phases:
# Vehicle ground testing
# Captive carry under White Knight Two
# Unpowered glide testing
# Subsonic testing with only a brief firing of the rocket
# [[Supersonic]] [[atmosphere|atmospheric]] testing
# Full flight into suborbital space
# Execute a detailed and lengthy appraisal process with the [[FAA/AST]] to demonstrate the system's robustness and eventually obtain a [[launch license|commercial launch license]] to begin commercial operations.<ref name=Fg20091027ww2>{{Cite video| people = [[Will Whitehorn]]| title = International Astronautical Congress 2009: Civilian Access to Space| medium = video |at= c. 20:00| publisher = [[Flightglobal]] Hyperbola, Rob Coppinger| location = Daejeon, Korea| url = http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/hyperbola/2009/10/video-iac2009-civilian-access.html| date = 27 October 2009}}</ref>

On 22 March 2010, the SpaceShipTwo vehicle VSS ''Enterprise'' underwent a captive carry test flight, with the parent White Knight Two aircraft, [[VMS Eve|VMS ''Eve'']], performing a short flight while carrying the ''Enterprise''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Maiden flight for Branson's SpaceShipTwo |work=ABC News |publisher= (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) |date=23 March 2010 |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/23/2853436.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100324200207/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/23/2853436.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 March 2010}}</ref>
A second test flight was made on 16 May 2010,<ref name="scaleSum"/> reaching SS2's launch altitude (51,000 feet) and lasting nearly five hours, in order to facilitate "cold soak" testing of SS2's avionics and pressurization system. Thereafter, "a simulated spaceship descent/glide mission was made from [launch] altitude."<ref name=aw20100520>
{{cite news |url= http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/asd/2010/05/20/07.xml&headline=SpaceShipTwo%20Flown%20To%20Launch%20Altitude |title= SpaceShipTwo Flown To Launch Altitude |work= [[Aviation Week]] |date= 20 May 2010 |access-date= 21 May 2010 }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
Between these two flights, the SpaceShipTwo airframe was modified by the addition of two interior fins, with one fin being added to the inside (rocket-side) of each of the craft's twin [[vertical stabilizer]]s.<ref name=hs20100521>
{{cite web |url= http://www.hobbyspace.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=20800 |title= SS2 modifications |publisher= HobbySpace.com |date= 21 May 2010 |access-date= 21 January 2012 |url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120121214116/http://hobbyspace.com/nucleus/index.php?itemid=20800 |archive-date= 21 January 2012 |df= dmy-all }}</ref>

On 15 July 2010, VSS ''Enterprise'' made its first crewed flight. The craft remained attached to VMS ''Eve'' as planned, and underwent a series of combined vehicle systems tests. The flight lasted a total of 6 hours and 21 minutes. A second, similar crewed flight of VSS ''Enterprise'' and VMS ''Eve'' was carried out on 30 September 2010, lasting approximately 5 hours. Among the objectives of these flights was the improvement of pilot proficiency, and the results of the flights were deemed to show that the systems were capable of supporting future glide missions.<ref name="scaleSum"/>

On 10 October 2010, VSS ''Enterprise'' made its first crewed gliding test flight. It was released from VMS ''Eve'' at 45,000&nbsp;ft (13,700 metres) and glided to a safe landing at the Mojave Air and Spaceport.<ref>{{cite press release |url= http://www.virgingalactic.com/news/item/vss-enterprise-completes-first-manned-glide-flight/ |title= VSS Enterprise Completes First Manned Glide Flight |publisher= Virgin Galactic News |date= 10 October 2010 |access-date= 21 November 2011 |url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111124004340/http://www.virgingalactic.com/news/item/vss-enterprise-completes-first-manned-glide-flight |archive-date= 24 November 2011 |df= dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/10/10/5266767-spaceshiptwo-flies-free-for-first-time |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101012164549/http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/10/10/5266767-spaceshiptwo-flies-free-for-first-time |url-status= dead |archive-date= 12 October 2010 |department=Cosmic Log |title= SpaceShipTwo flies free for first time |publisher= MSNBC |access-date= 10 October 2010}}</ref><ref name=aw20101021>
{{cite news |url= http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/awst/2010/10/18/AW_10_18_2010_p37-262023.xml&headline=SS2%20Test%20Moves%20Virgin%20Closer%20to%20Goal |title= SS2 Test Moves Virgin Closer to Goal |work= Aviation Week |date= 21 October 2010 |access-date= 23 October 2010 }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> A second gliding test flight took place on 28 October 2010<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/virgin-galactic-spaceshiptwo-2nd-glide-101029.html |title= Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Spaceliner Completes 2nd Glide Flight |publisher= Space.com |date= 29 October 2011 |access-date= 26 October 2011}}</ref> and a third on 17 November 2010.<ref name="Leonard-David-2010-11-19">
{{cite news |url= http://www.nbcnews.com/id/40274787 |title= Virgin Galactic's spaceship aces 3rd glide flight |publisher= [[NBC News]] |first= Leonard |last= David |date= 19 November 2010 |access-date= 22 November 2010}}{{dead link|date=August 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> {{as of|December 2010}}, Scaled reported that the flight test program was exceeding expectations.<ref name=aw20101223>
{{cite news |url= http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/awst/2010/12/20/AW_12_20_2010_p32-277650.xml&headline=SS2%20Glide%20Tests%20Exceed%20Expected%20Progress&channel=space |title= SS2 Glide Tests Exceed Expected Progress |work= Aviation Week |date= 23 December 2010 |access-date= 24 December 2010 }}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The fourth test flight took place on 13 January 2011,<ref>{{cite press release |url= http://www.virgingalactic.com/news/item/test-flights-continue/ |publisher= Virgin Galactic News |title= Test Flights Continue |url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120810153558/http://www.virgingalactic.com/news/item/test-flights-continue/ |archive-date= 10 August 2012 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> while the fifth and sixth glide flights occurred on 22 and 27 April 2011, respectively.<ref name="scaleSum">{{cite news |url= http://www.scaled.com/projects/spaceshiptwo_test_summaries |title= Test Summaries |publisher= [[Scaled Composites]] |date= 11 August 2012 |access-date= 17 August 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170617220949/http://scaled.com/projects/spaceshiptwo_test_summaries |archive-date= 17 June 2017 |url-status=dead|df= dmy-all }}</ref> Following this, the feathered reentry configuration was tested in flight on 4 May 2011,<ref name="scaleSum"/> with weekly test flights continuing through the end of May.<ref name="scaleSum"/>
On 9 June 2011, SS2 failed to separate from White Knight Two during its 11th planned glide flight due to a technical problem.<ref name="scaleSum"/> Testing resumed with five successful glide flights in June 2011.<ref name="scaleSum"/>

In July 2011, after 15 successful glide flights, flight testing of SS2 was halted for two months while planned revisions to the spaceplane were made.<ref name=sdc20110728>
{{cite news |last= David |first= Leonard |title= Private Rocket Ship for Space Tourists Takes Break from Test Flights |url=http://www.space.com/12459-virgin-galactic-spaceshiptwo-test-flights-hiatus.html |access-date=30 July 2011 |publisher=Space.com |date=28 July 2011}}</ref> Flight tests resumed in late September 2011, although the 16th glide flight&nbsp;– on 29 September&nbsp;– was marred by a brief loss of control aboard SS2, forcing the crew to utilise the feathered wing configuration to land safely.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.nbcnews.com/id/44936907 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141103061437/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/44936907 |url-status= dead |archive-date= 3 November 2014 |title=Private spaceship briefly hurtled out of control |publisher= [[NBC News]] |date= 17 October 2011 |access-date= 18 October 2011}}</ref><ref name=SpaceCoOct>{{cite web |url= http://www.space.com/13297-virgin-galactic-spaceshiptwo-test-flight-glitch.html |title= Virgin Galactic's private spaceship makes safe landing after tense test flight |publisher= [[Space.com]] |date= 17 October 2011 |access-date= 18 October 2011}}</ref> This test was followed by another hiatus, during which some of the spacecraft's engine components were installed.<ref name=Resume2012>{{cite web |url= http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/spaceshiptwo-to-resume-flight-tests-as-early-as-june-371741/ |title= SpaceShipTwo to resume flight tests as early as June |publisher= Flightglobal.com |date= 11 May 2012 |access-date= 21 May 2012}}</ref> In June 2012, Scaled Composites received an FAA permit to conduct rocket-powered supersonic test flights.<ref name=FAAPermit2012>{{cite web |url= http://www.flyingmag.com/news/spaceshiptwo-gets-thumbs-rocket-powered-flights |title= SpaceShipTwo Gets Thumbs Up for Rocket-Powered Flights |work= [[Flying Magazine]] |date= 1 June 2012}}</ref> SpaceShipTwo flight tests resumed in June 2012.<ref name=Resume2012/><ref name=June2012Tests>{{cite web |url= http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=37626 |title= Virgin Galactic successfully completes SpaceShipTwo glide flight test and rocket motor firing on same day |publisher= SpaceRef.com |date= 28 June 2012 |access-date= 24 August 2012 |archive-date= 28 July 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200728041832/http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=37626 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

In September 2012, Virgin Galactic announced that the unpowered [[wikt:subsonic|subsonic]] glide flight test program was essentially complete. The company thereafter stated its intention to fit the hybrid rocket motor and control system to the vehicle, before resuming the glide flight test program with the rocket motor installed, in order to recharacterize the spacecraft's glide performance with slightly different weight distribution and aerodynamics.<ref>{{cite web |last= Rosenberg |first= Zach |url= http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/virgin-galactic-finishes-unpowered-flight-test-376475/ |title= Virgin Galactic finishes unpowered flight test |publisher= FlightGlobal.com |date= 13 September 2012 |access-date= 26 September 2012}}</ref> In October 2012, Scaled Composites installed key components of the rocket motor, and SpaceShipTwo performed its first glide flight with the engine installed in December 2012.<ref name=December2012Testing>{{cite news |url= http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/19/16025374-spaceshiptwo-straps-on-its-engine |title= SpaceShipTwo straps on its engine |publisher= NBC |date= 20 December 2012 |access-date= 20 December 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/asd_10_22_2012_p04-01-509022.xml |title= SpaceShipTwo Fitted With Rocket Propulsion System |work= [[Aviation Week]] |date= 22 October 2012 |access-date= 14 November 2012 |archive-date= 12 October 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131012173343/http://www.aviationweek.com/Article.aspx?id=/article-xml/asd_10_22_2012_p04-01-509022.xml |url-status= dead }}</ref>

The spacecraft's first powered test flight took place on 29 April 2013, briefly driving SpaceShipTwo to a [[supersonic]] velocity.<ref name="ScaleTestLogs">{{cite web |title= SpaceShipTwo Test Summaries |url= http://www.scaled.com/projects/test_logs/35/model_339_spaceshiptwo |publisher= [[Scaled Composites]] |access-date= 29 April 2013 |date= 29 April 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130816140953/http://www.scaled.com/projects/test_logs/35/model_339_spaceshiptwo |archive-date= 16 August 2013 |url-status=dead|df= dmy-all }}</ref><ref name=VG130429>{{cite press release |title= Virgin Galactic Breaks Speed of Sound in First Rocket-Powered Flight of SpaceShipTwo |url= http://www.virgingalactic.com/news/item/virgin-galactic-breaks-speed-of-sound-in-first-rocket-powered-flight-of-spaceshiptwo/ |publisher= [[Virgin Galactic]] |access-date= 29 April 2013 |date= 29 April 2013 |url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130430085117/http://www.virgingalactic.com/news/item/virgin-galactic-breaks-speed-of-sound-in-first-rocket-powered-flight-of-spaceshiptwo/ |archive-date= 30 April 2013 |df= dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.3news.co.nz/SpaceShipTwo-makes-first-powered-flight/tabid/1160/articleID/296027/Default.aspx |work= 3 News NZ |title= SpaceShipTwo makes first powered flight |date= 30 April 2013 |access-date= 24 July 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131230233726/http://www.3news.co.nz/SpaceShipTwo-makes-first-powered-flight/tabid/1160/articleID/296027/Default.aspx |archive-date= 30 December 2013 |url-status=dead|df= dmy-all }}</ref> [[Richard Branson]] said it "couldn't have gone more smoothly".<ref name="3news.co.nz"/>

On 5 September 2013, the second powered flight was made by the SpaceShipTwo. It broke the sound barrier, reached Mach 1.43, and climbed to 69,000 feet (21&nbsp;km) over the [[Mojave Desert]] under rocket power and descended using its tilt-wing "feathering" maneuver.<ref>{{cite web |title=Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Succeeds in Second Rocket-Powered Flight |url= https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2013/09/05/virgin-galactics-spaceshiptwo-succeeds-in-second-rocket-powered-flight/ |work= Forbes |access-date= 6 September 2013}}</ref>  Space journalist Doug Messier reported that "the [[Plume (hydrodynamics)|engine plume]] featured white smoke, not the black smoke seen on the April flight."<ref name=nsj20130906>
{{cite news |last= Foust |first= Jeff |title= SpaceShipTwo flies a little higher and a little faster |url= http://www.newspacejournal.com/2013/09/06/spaceshiptwo-flies-a-little-higher-and-a-little-faster/ |access-date=7 September 2013 |newspaper= NewSpace Journal |date= 6 September 2013 }}</ref>

On 10 January 2014, the third powered flight climbed higher than the previous flights, testing a new coating on the tail boom and other systems.<ref name=pressrelease20140110>{{cite press release |url= http://www.virgingalactic.com/news/item/virgin-galactic-reaches-new-heights-in-third-supersonic-test-flight/ |date= 10 January 2014 |access-date= 10 January 2014 |title= Virgin Galactic Reaches New Heights in Third Supersonic Test Flight |publisher= Virgin Galactic |url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140407135714/http://www.virgingalactic.com/news/item/virgin-galactic-reaches-new-heights-in-third-supersonic-test-flight |archive-date= 7 April 2014 |df= dmy-all }}</ref>

===List of test flights===
{{Excerpt|List of Virgin Galactic launches|VSS ''Enterprise'' flights|subsections=yes}}

===First commercial spacecraft accident===
{{Main|VSS Enterprise crash}}

On 31 October 2014, ''Enterprise'' [[2014 Virgin Galactic crash|broke apart in flight]] during a powered test flight over California's Mojave Desert.<ref name="NYT-20141031-KC">{{cite news |last1=Chang |first1=Kenneth |last2=Schwartz |first2=John |title=Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Crashes in New Setback for Commercial Spaceflight |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/01/science/virgin-galactics-spaceshiptwo-crashes-during-test-flight.html |date=31 October 2014 |work=New York Times |access-date=1 November 2014 }}</ref><ref name="WRD-201410312-AR">{{cite magazine |last=Rogers |first=Adam |title=Space Tourism Isn't Worth Dying For |url=https://www.wired.com/2014/10/virgin-galactic-boondoggle/ |date=31 October 2014 |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |access-date=1 November 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Virgin Galactic spacecraft crash kills pilot|date=31 October 2014|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-29857182|publisher=[[BBC]]|access-date=8 November 2014}}</ref> The flight began smoothly, with ''Enterprise'' being dropped from its WhiteKnightTwo carrier and igniting its engine at an altitude of {{convert|50000|ft|m}}.<ref name="NYT-20141031-KC" /> About 60 to 90 seconds into the flight, an "anomaly" was reported that resulted in destruction of the ship.<ref name="NYT-20141031-KC" /> The pilot in command, [[Peter Siebold]], escaped from the craft and parachuted to safety; the copilot, [[Michael Alsbury]], was killed in the crash.<ref name="NYT-20141031-KC" /><ref name="EnterpriseNTSBReport" />

The [[National Transportation Safety Board]] conducted an independent investigation into the accident. In July 2015, the NTSB released a report that cited inadequate design safeguards, poor pilot training, lack of rigorous federal oversight and a potentially anxious co-pilot without recent flight experience as important factors in the crash.<ref name="EnterpriseNTSBReport"/> The NTSB determined that the crash resulted from the co-pilot's premature deployment of the [[Atmospheric entry#Feathered reentry|feathering mechanism]], which is normally used to aid a safe descent. The NTSB also faulted the ship's designers for failing to protect against human error, noting that the spacecraft lacked fail-safe systems that would have prevented or deterred a premature deployment of the feathering mechanism.<ref name="EnterpriseNTSBReport"/> The NTSB recommended that the FAA establish human factors guidance specific to commercial spaceflight operators and create a more rigorous application process for experimental spaceflight permits.<ref name="EnterpriseNTSBReport"/>

==Image gallery==
<div align="center">
<gallery caption="Virgin Galactic VSS ''Enterprise''" widths="180px" heights="140px" perrow="5">
File:White Knight Two and SpaceShipTwo from directly below.jpg|''Enterprise'' in flight slung under [[VMS Eve|VMS ''Eve'']]
Image:Vg-wk2-080728_(3)_cr8.jpg|''Enterprise'' under construction and under wraps in 2008
File:SS2 Orthos.svg|A 3-view of the SS2
</gallery>
</div>

==See also==
* [[Burt Rutan]]
* [[Space tourism]]
* [[VSS Unity|VSS ''Unity'']]
* [[VMS Eve|VMS ''Eve'']]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|VSS Enterprise}}
* [http://mojaveskies.blogspot.com/search?q=Enterprise ''Enterprise'' construction sequence images]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwm3leZu-O0 Virgin Galactic's Third Powered Flight] - 14 Jan 2014 Official video on [[Virgin Galactic]] [[YouTube]] channel
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4l_TBxlgkc#t=37 Virgin Galactic], [[National Geographic Channel]], documentary of the conception, design, build and early flights of VSS ''Enterprise'', 2012.
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZnQcMpzunM-O0 NTSB B-Roll of the SpaceShipTwo Crash Scene in Mojave, Calif.] - 1 Nov 2014 Official video on [[NTSB]] YouTube channel

{{Enterprise Spaceships}}
{{Scaled Composites}}
{{The Spaceship Company}}
{{Virgin Galactic}}

[[Category:Scaled Composites]]<!-- company that designed, built and test the first article SS2 for Virgin Galactic -->
[[Category:Virgin Galactic]]<!-- company funding the spaceplane-->
[[Category:Glider aircraft]]
[[Category:Rocket-powered aircraft]]
[[Category:Crewed spacecraft]]
[[Category:Space tourism]]
[[Category:SpaceShipTwo|Enterprise]]
[[Category:2000s United States airliners]]
[[Category:Destroyed spacecraft]]
[[Category:Space program fatalities]]
[[Category:Individual spaceplanes]]
[[Category:Suborbital spaceflight]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 2010]]