VSS Unity VF-01

VF-01 was a <a href="/facts/Sub-orbital_spaceflight/NdLRlGIq">sub-orbital spaceflight</a> of the <a href="/facts/SpaceShipTwo/IAAHm6Qx">SpaceShipTwo</a>-class <a href="/facts/VSS_Unity/ooUekxsP">VSS Unity</a> that took place on 22 February 2019, piloted by <a href="/facts/David_Mackay_(pilot)/LtV1SMS4">David Mackay</a> and co-piloted by Mike Masucci. It was operated by <a href="/facts/Virgin_Galactic/BrJavxml">Virgin Galactic</a>, a private company led by <a href="/facts/Richard_Branson/khhRPD3m">Richard Branson</a> that intends to conduct <a href="/facts/Space_tourism/fMK9CcnM">space tourism</a> flights in the future. Following <a href="/facts/VSS_Unity_VP-03/qaGc8jG8">VSS Unity VP-03</a>, VF-01 was a demonstration of the craft's ability to carry passengers. Virgin Galactic's chief astronaut trainer <a href="/facts/Beth_Moses/CAAkYz4n">Beth Moses</a> acted as a test passenger, evaluating the experience for potential customers.
Reaching an apogee of 55.92 mi (89.99 km), the flight satisfied the United States definition of spaceflight (50 mi (80.47 km)), but fell short of the <a href="/facts/K%25C3%25A1rm%25C3%25A1n_line/CfvQ3fbp">Kármán line</a> (100 km (62.14 mi)), the <a href="/facts/F%25C3%25A9d%25C3%25A9ration_A%25C3%25A9ronautique_Internationale/WoJkGK09">Fédération Aéronautique Internationale</a> definition. It was the highest flight of Unity and the SpaceShipTwo ever.

VSS Unity VF-01 open-in-new

VSS Unity VF-01