Virgin Galactic tests new spaceplane

Replacement craft's high-altitude glide test was first free flight since 2014 fatal accident

Virgin Galactic's new VSS Unity spaceplane has flown free for the first time this week. It was released from its carrier aircraft at 10:40am EST. After a 10-minute glide, it landed back on its runway in Mojave.

This is Virgin Galactic's first free flight test since the fatal accident in October 2014 that destroyed the company's initial spaceplane, and claimed the life of one pilot and injured another.