Nvidia Weighs Expanding H200 AI Chip Production as China Demand Surges 
California Jury Awards $40 Million in Johnson & Johnson Talc Cancer Lawsuit 
Air Force One Delivery Delayed to 2028 as Boeing Faces Rising Costs 
Mizuho Raises Broadcom Price Target to $450 on Surging AI Chip Demand 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Coca-Cola’s Costa Coffee Sale Faces Uncertainty as Talks With TDR Capital Hit Snag 
ANZ Faces Legal Battle as Former CEO Shayne Elliott Sues Over A$13.5 Million Bonus Dispute 
JD.com Pledges 22 Billion Yuan Housing Support for Couriers as China’s Instant Retail Competition Heats Up 
Trello Outage Disrupts Users as Access Issues Hit Atlassian’s Work Management Platform 
Azul Airlines Wins Court Approval for $2 Billion Debt Restructuring and New Capital Raise 
Fortescue Expands Copper Portfolio With Full Takeover of Alta Copper 
CMOC to Acquire Equinox Gold’s Brazilian Mines in $1 Billion Deal to Expand Precious Metals Portfolio 
HSBC’s $13.6 Billion Take-Private Offer for Hang Seng Bank Gains Board Backing 
SoftBank Eyes Switch Inc as It Pushes Deeper Into AI Data Center Expansion 
Coca-Cola’s Proposed Sale of Costa Coffee Faces Uncertainty Amid Price Dispute 
iRobot Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Amid Rising Competition and Tariff Pressures 
Evercore Reaffirms Alphabet’s Search Dominance as AI Competition Intensifies 
Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. announced that during the routine post-flight reviews of its most recent spaceflight, 'Galactic 06,' it became aware of an alignment pin detachment from the launch pylon of its mothership, VMS Eve. The company promptly notified the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and is now conducting a joint review with the FAA.
Safe and Successful Flight Despite Detachment
The company said via a press release that 'Galactic 06' was a safe and successful flight, strictly adhering to Virgin Galactic's rigorous flight procedures and protocols. The detached alignment pin did not pose any safety risks to the vehicles or the crew on board.
Virgin Galactic flights are conducted in restricted airspace and specific geographical launch locations, ensuring the safety of people and structures on the ground. No damage was observed on either the spaceship or the mothership.
Role of Alignment Pin and Shear Pin Fitting Assembly
Reuters noted that the alignment pin is essential during pre-flight procedures to ensure proper spaceship and mothership alignment. During mated flight, the alignment pin transfers drag and other forces from the spaceship to the shear pin fitting assembly, which then distributes them to the pylon and center wing of the mothership.
Although both parts play a role during mated flight, they do not support the spaceship's weight and do not have an active function once the spaceship is released.
Review Update and Upcoming Mission
Virgin Galactic will provide a comprehensive update upon the completion of the review. Additionally, the company plans to announce the flight window for the 'Galactic 07' mission, scheduled for the second quarter of 2024.
In order to maintain its commitment to safety and performance, Virgin Galactic remains dedicated to thorough reviews and adherence to FAA regulations. The detachment of the alignment pin, which occurred after the spaceship's release, did not impact the overall success of 'Galactic 06.' Virgin Galactic continues to push boundaries in the commercial space industry, aiming to make space more accessible for everyone.
Photo: Francois Olwage/Unsplash
