--- title: "Virgin Galactic’s Space Plane Soars to New Heights" description: "Virgin Galactic's suborbital space plane VSS Unity reached a maximum altitude (apogee) of 294,900 ft or 55.85 miles (89.9km) today." date: "2019-02-22" modified: "2019-02-22" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/virgin-galactic-spaceshiptwo-vss-unity-fifth-test-flight" categories: - "Off-World" - "Space" tags: - "space plane" - "spaceshiptwo" - "virgin galactic" - "whiteknighttwo" --- # Virgin Galactic’s Space Plane Soars to New Heights ![Virgin Galactic's suborbital space plane VSS Unity reached a maximum altitude (apogee) of 240,000 feet or 45 miles(73 km) on its fifth test flight.]() *\Image: Virgin Galactic\* ## New Heights Virgin Galactic's supersonic space plane, the VSS Unity, took off on its fifth test flight today. Mothership WhiteKnightTwo released the suborbital space plane at around 44,000 feet — and VSS Unity reached a new maximum altitude of 55.85 miles (89.9km.) The second generation SpaceShipTwo, dubbed VSS Unity, reached an altitude of 51.4 miles (82.7 km) during its [fourth test flight]() in December 2018. This time, the space plane traveled with a much heavier payload — close to full commercial weight — and a third crew member, Beth Moses, the first woman to enter space on a commercial US spacecraft. https://twitter.com/virgingalactic/status/1098997318429241344 ## Expanding the Envelope "Although we passed a major milestone in December, we still have a way to go in testing the many factors that can affect a flight," reads [a press release](). "So, for this flight, we will be expanding the envelope to gather new and vital data essential to future tests and operations, including vehicle center of gravity." https://twitter.com/virgingalactic/status/1098635524707733504 Virgin Galactic is developing the SpaceShipTwo platform to be part of its space tourism fleet, giving those who can afford a ticket — [$250,000]() isn't cheap — a taste of micro-gravity. But it's not quite a ride to the International Space Station — that'd require it to fly to [more than four times]() its current maximum altitude. **READ MORE:** [SpaceShipTwo, VSS Unity, Prepares For Fifth Supersonic Powered Test Flight]() \[*Virgin Galactic*\] ***More on SpaceShipTwo: [Did Virgin Galactic’s Spaceplane Reach Space? Depends Who You Ask]()*** ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()