SINGAPORE - ST Aerospace, ST Engineering's aerospace arm, will provide maintenance support to the world's first commercial spaceline.

The firm's United States affiliate company, VT San Antonio Aerospace, will be conducting heavy maintenance checks onVirgin Galactic's Boeing 747-400 aircraft - the carrier aircraft for its small satellite launch vehicle.

During the heavy maintenance visit, the 747-400 will undergo an inspection of all of its airframe structure, with many of its systems to be removed and overhauled in the process.

The aircraft will then undergo various modifications, before entering service with Virgin Galactic, serving as the first stage in the spaceline's LauncherOne orbital launch system. "We are excited to be part of this phenomenal LauncherOne programme and appreciate the vote of confidence that Virgin Galactic has placed in us for this very important maintenance check of the aircraft that serves as the foundation for launching the world's first commercial spacecraft," said Mr Stephen Lim, the president of VT Aerospace and VT San Antonio Aerospace.