ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. - Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: NYSE:SPCE) 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 procedures. The company also stated that there was no damage to either the spaceship or the mothership as a result of the pin's detachment. The shear pin fitting assembly, which works in conjunction with the alignment pin during the flight, remained intact and undamaged.
The company has announced that it will provide an update upon completion of the review and will confirm the schedule for the next mission, "Galactic 07," expected in the second quarter of 2024.
Virgin Galactic is an aerospace company that aims to pioneer space travel for private individuals and researchers.
InvestingPro Insights
In the context of Virgin Galactic's recent mission update and the company's ongoing efforts to pioneer commercial space travel, real-time data from InvestingPro provides a snapshot of the company's financial health and market performance. Virgin Galactic holds more cash than debt on its balance sheet, a promising sign for investors concerned about the company's financial stability. Additionally, analysts are anticipating sales growth in the current year, which could signal a positive trajectory for the company's revenue.
InvestingPro data indicates a market capitalization of $667.52 million, which reflects the company's current valuation in the market. Despite significant revenue growth over the last twelve months, as of Q1 2023, with an increase of 206.82%, Virgin Galactic is facing challenges with a negative gross profit margin of -463.15% and a substantial operating income loss, signaling that the company is quickly burning through cash. The stock price has experienced considerable volatility, with a -71.38% one-year total return as of the latest data, illustrating the high-risk nature of investing in this pioneering space venture.
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