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Photos: Virgin Galactic’s space tourism rocket plane VSS Unity completes another successful test in desert

by in News

MOJAVE >>Virgin Galactic’s space tourism rocket plane VSS Unity soared over the Mojave Desert on its third powered test flight.

The company said the craft ascended Thursday at more than twice the speed of sound and reached an altitude of 32.3 miles (52 kilometers).

The spacecraft was taken aloft by the carrier aircraft VMS Eve and released at high altitude before the two test pilots ignited the rocket motor and pulled Unity into a near-vertical climb.The craft then glided to a landing at Mojave Air and Space Port.

  • 7-26-18. Mojave CA. Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes it third successful rocket powered supersonic flight Thursday. This ship went altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles.
    Photo by Gene Blevins/LA DailyNews/SCNG

  • 7-26-18. Mojave CA. Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes it third successful rocket powered supersonic flight Thursday. This ship went altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles.
    Photo by Gene Blevins/LA DailyNews/SCNG

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  • 7-26-18. Mojave CA. Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes it third successful rocket powered supersonic flight Thursday. This ship went altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles.
    Photo by Gene Blevins/LA DailyNews/SCNG

  • 7-26-18. Mojave CA. Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes it third successful rocket powered supersonic flight Thursday. This ship went altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles.
    Photo by Gene Blevins/LA DailyNews/SCNG

  • 7-26-18. Mojave CA. Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes it third successful rocket powered supersonic flight Thursday. This ship went altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles.
    Photo by Gene Blevins/LA DailyNews/SCNG

  • 7-26-18. Mojave CA. Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes it third successful rocket powered supersonic flight Thursday. This ship went altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles.
    Photo by Gene Blevins/LA DailyNews/SCNG

  • 7-26-18. Mojave CA. Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes it third successful rocket powered supersonic flight Thursday. This ship went altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles.
    Photo by Gene Blevins/LA DailyNews/SCNG

  • 7-26-18. Mojave CA. Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes it third successful rocket powered supersonic flight Thursday. This ship went altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles.
    Photo by Gene Blevins/LA DailyNews/SCNG

  • 7-26-18. Mojave CA. Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes it third successful rocket powered supersonic flight Thursday. This ship went altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles.
    Photo by Gene Blevins/LA DailyNews/SCNG

  • 7-26-18. Mojave CA. Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes it third successful rocket powered supersonic flight Thursday. This ship went altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles.
    Photo by Gene Blevins/LA DailyNews/SCNG

  • 7-26-18. Mojave CA. Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes it third successful rocket powered supersonic flight Thursday. This ship went altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles.
    Photo by Gene Blevins/LA DailyNews/SCNG

  • 7-26-18. Mojave CA. Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes it third successful rocket powered supersonic flight Thursday. This ship went altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles.
    Photo by Gene Blevins/LA DailyNews/SCNG

  • 7-26-18. Mojave CA. Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes it third successful rocket powered supersonic flight Thursday. This ship went altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles.
    Photo by Gene Blevins/LA DailyNews/SCNG

  • 7-26-18. Mojave CA. Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes it third successful rocket powered supersonic flight Thursday. This ship went altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles.
    Photo by Gene Blevins/LA DailyNews/SCNG

  • 7-26-18. Mojave CA. Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes it third successful rocket powered supersonic flight Thursday. This ship went altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles.
    Photo by Gene Blevins/LA DailyNews/SCNG

  • 7-26-18. Mojave CA. Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes it third successful rocket powered supersonic flight Thursday. This ship went altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles.
    Photo by Gene Blevins/LA DailyNews/SCNG

  • Porter Ranch homes that come up to the SoCalGas Aliso Canyon Storage Facility on Monday, October 17, 2016, nearly one year after the gas leak was discovered. (Photo by Gene Blevins)

  • Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes its third successful rocket powered supersonic flight onThursday, July 26, 2018. This ship went to an altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, a speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes its third successful rocket powered supersonic flight onThursday, July 26, 2018. This ship went to an altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, a speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes its third successful rocket powered supersonic flight onThursday, July 26, 2018. This ship went to an altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, a speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes its third successful rocket powered supersonic flight onThursday, July 26, 2018. This ship went to an altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, a speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes its third successful rocket powered supersonic flight onThursday, July 26, 2018. This ship went to an altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, a speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes its third successful rocket powered supersonic flight onThursday, July 26, 2018. This ship went to an altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, a speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes its third successful rocket powered supersonic flight onThursday, July 26, 2018. This ship went to an altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, a speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes its third successful rocket powered supersonic flight onThursday, July 26, 2018. This ship went to an altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, a speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes its third successful rocket powered supersonic flight onThursday, July 26, 2018. This ship went to an altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, a speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes its third successful rocket powered supersonic flight onThursday, July 26, 2018. This ship went to an altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, a speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes its third successful rocket powered supersonic flight onThursday, July 26, 2018. This ship went to an altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, a speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes its third successful rocket powered supersonic flight onThursday, July 26, 2018. This ship went to an altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, a speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes its third successful rocket powered supersonic flight onThursday, July 26, 2018. This ship went to an altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, a speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes its third successful rocket powered supersonic flight onThursday, July 26, 2018. This ship went to an altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, a speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes its third successful rocket powered supersonic flight onThursday, July 26, 2018. This ship went to an altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, a speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes its third successful rocket powered supersonic flight onThursday, July 26, 2018. This ship went to an altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, a speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

  • Virgin Galactic spaceship two makes its third successful rocket powered supersonic flight onThursday, July 26, 2018. This ship went to an altitude of 46,500 ft , a burn time of 42 sec, a speed of mach 2,47 and apogee of 170,800 ft, 32.3 miles. (Photo by Gene Blevins for the Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

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The test flights are aimed at bringing the craft into commercial service, which would take place at Spaceport America, near Las Cruces.

Virgin Galactic is based in New Mexico, but its satellite spinoff, Virgin Orbit, is located in Long Beach.

Earlier this week, Virgin Group Founder Richard Branson told Bloomberg his Virgin Galactic spaceflight company is just about ready to launch a space mission.

“Before the end of the year I hope to be sitting in a Virgin Galactic spaceship, going to space,” Branson said in the new episode of “The David Rubenstein Show: Peer-to-Peer Conversations.”