Over the weekend, Virgin Galactic performed one of its most important test flights to date, as the VSS Unity completed a one hour and 20 minute long journey across the Mojave Desert in the United States. It was the first "free" flight that the VSS Unity has undertaken to date, with the aircraft flying under its own control for the first time. 

According to Virgin Galactic, this will be the first of many flights the VSS Unity will attempt, as the aircraft is still in the gliding phase of its development. To that end, the company is yet to fit rockets or indeed any type of propulsion onto the VSS Unity, but stated this latest successful flight allowed them to glean plenty of valuable data.

VSS Unity glides for the first time, after being released from WhiteKnightTwo (VMS Eve). Taken today. #SpaceShipTwo pic.twitter.com/jBDkqgw1pw

— Virgin Galactic (@virgingalactic) December 3, 2016

The VSS Unity was able to reach a maximum speed of 0.6 Mach, which is roughly 740 km/h, while gliding at an altitude of 50 000 feet. While this flight was deemed a success by its two pilots, the VSS Unity will undergo thorough checks and testing before another unassisted glide is attempted. Until then, hit play on the video below to see it in Captive Carry.