© Reuters.
ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. – Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: NYSE:) disclosed that a routine post-flight inspection revealed an alignment pin had detached from the mothership, VMS Eve, during the “Galactic 06” mission. The company confirmed the incident on January 31 to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and is currently reviewing the matter with the agency.
The alignment pin is part of the mechanism that secures the spaceship to the mothership during the initial phase of the flight. According to Virgin Galactic, the pin successfully performed its function while the vehicles were mated, and its detachment occurred after the spaceship had been released and did not pose any danger to the crew, the mothership, or people on the ground.
Virgin Galactic emphasized that the “Galactic 06” flight was carried out safely and in compliance with their stringent flight…
