Virgin Galactic has reported the detachment of an alignment pin (from the launch pylon of its mothership during flight) to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Although Virgin Galactic notes that at no point did the “detached alignment pin pose a safety impact to the vehicles or the crew on board” flight Galactic 06, the company notified the FAA in accordance with regulations, and will be participating in a joint review alongside the US regulator.
The alignment pin helps make sure the spaceship is aligned to the mothership when mating the vehicles on the ground during pre-flight procedures. “While both parts play a role during mated flight, they do not support the spaceship’s weight, not do they have an active function once the spaceship is released,” confirmed Virgin Galactic.
Upon completion of the review, the company will provide a further update and confirm the launch window for the Galactic 07 mission, which is scheduled for the second quarter of 2024.
Virgin Galactic reports flight issue to FAA
