Spaceship Two “Unity” on the runway after the spaceflight test, which was abandoned on December 12, 2020.
Virgin Galactic
Virgin Galactic stock plunged in booking trading on Monday after the space travel agency cut its latest space test midway due to an engine ignition problem on Saturday.
“The plane did not reach space as we had planned. After being released from its motherland, the spacecraft that monitors the rocket motor lost its internal computer connection. , ”Said Michael Colglacier, CEO of Virgin Galactic in a statement.
The company expects to recreate the space travel effort from its operating base in Spaceport USA in New Mexico. Colglacier said he had been evaluating data from the Virgin Galactic test and did not expect it to be ready for re-launch, adding that the company had several rocket engines “ready” onsite and would “check the vehicle and return to the aircraft” soon. “
Shares of Virgin Galactic fell more than 18% in bookings trading from its previous $ 32.04.
The first of three remaining spaceflight tests on Saturday, the company plans to complete the development of its spacecraft system, the third of which will carry founder Sir Richard Branson. The impact of the test, which was dropped on the Virgin Galactic schedule, has not yet been determined, with the Branson flight previously scheduled for the first quarter of 2021.
In addition, Virgin Galactic spaceflight on Saturday was the company’s first attempt at nearly 22 months, with its previous spaceflight coming in February 2019 from Mojave Air and Space Harbor in California. In the Middle Ages the company moved its operations to Spaceport America, away from its manufacturing and development facilities in Mojave.
Subscribe to CNBC Pro For exclusive intelligence and analysis and live business day programming around the world.