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The White Knight - Virgin Galaxy
Nothing to do with the Dark Kinight this time. Sir Dicky Branson unveiled the White Knight earlier this week in the Mojave desert.
Now how much sponsorship would I need to get on this flight? Nothing to do with the Dark Kinight this time. Sir Dicky Branson unveiled the White Knight earlier this week in the Mojave desert. ... more -
Virgin in Space
If you didn't already know, Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic plans to provide sub-orbital spaceflights to the public as early as next year.
On July 28, Branson and American aerospace designer Burt Rutan unveiled the White Knight Two, an exotic jet that will carry a passenger spaceship to launch altitude.
The four-engine jet, with its 140-foot single wing, is an engineering marvel. The space between its twin fuselages is where SpaceShipTwo, the passenger rocket, will be mounted.
They're taking reservations now ... who's with me? If you didn't already know, Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic plans to provide sub-orbital spaceflights to the public as... more -
Mother Ship Unveiled for $200,000 Place in Space
"British entrepreneur and adventurer Richard Branson on Monday took the wraps off an aircraft that, for $200,000 a seat, may someday take tourists who can afford it on the first leg of regular, albeit very brief, commercial flights into space.
Amid extravagantly orchestrated publicity at a historic test airfield near Edwards Air Force Base, Branson unveiled the double-hulled "mother ship" built to carry a capsule filled with six wealthy tourists high into the stratosphere, from where the smaller ship would rocket into the blackness more than 60 miles above Earth.
The dual-fuselage, all-composite plane expands and refines the smaller version that famed aircraft designer Burt Rutan twice used four years ago to begin the journey of a piloted capsule to sub-orbital altitude, winning the X-Prize competition aimed at encouraging private spaceflight.
No one knows when Virgin Galactic will fly, but about 100 people have already paid full price for the trip, which comes to $50,000 per minute for the four minutes the travelers will spend in weightlessness. An additional 170 have put down deposits.
'It's no good saying it's just extravagant. It could lead to all kinds of things,' said Evette Branson after christening the oddly shaped four-engine jet, dubbed Eve in her honor."
(End of excerpt)
Full story at link by Karl Vick// Washington Post "British entrepreneur and adventurer Richard Branson on Monday took the wraps off an aircraft that, for $200,000 a seat, may some... more -
Virgin Galactic Space Ship Two Animation
Virgin Galactic is the world's first spaceline. Giving you the groundbreaking opportunity to become one of the first ever non-professional astronauts. Virgin Galactic will own and operate its privately built spaceships, modelled on the remarkable, history-making SpaceShipOne.
Virgin's vast experience in aviation, adventure, luxury travel and cutting-edge design combined with the unique technology developed by Burt Rutan will ensure an unforgettable experience unlike any other available to mankind.
With safety at the forefront, our unique spacecraft is being designed at Rutan's base in Mojave, California alongside a concerted research and development programme.
"The deal with Mojave Aerospace Ventures is just the start of what we believe will be a new era in the history of mankind, one day making the affordable exploration of space by human beings a real possibility." Richard Branson.
It is these spaceships that will allow affordable sub-orbital space tourism for the first time in the history of the universe.
http://www.virgingalactic.com/ Virgin Galactic is the world's first spaceline. Giving you the groundbreaking opportunity to become one of the first ever non-pro... more -
Secret space ship unveiled in Mojave desert!
Aerospace engineers have been holed up in a Mojave Desert hangar for four years, fashioning a commercial spaceship to loft rich tourists some 62 miles above Earth. Now the wraps come partially off the top-secret project.
British billionaire Sir Richard Branson and American aerospace designer Burt Rutan are due Monday to show off their mothership, which is designed to air launch a passenger-toting spaceship out of the atmosphere.
The rollout — a year after a deadly accident at Rutan's test site — marks the start of a rigorous flight test program that space tourism advocates hope will climax with the first suborbital joy rides by the end of the decade. More than 250 wannabe astronauts have paid $200,000 or put down deposits for a chance to float weightless for a mere five minutes.
"Having invested all my faith in it, I'm so excited to see the actual thing," said artist Namira Salim, a customer who is lined up for a ride on Branson's Virgin Galactic.
The last time there was this level of buzz in the high desert north of Los Angeles was in 2004, when throngs of spectators gathered to witness SpaceShipOne capture the $10 million Ansari X Prize by becoming the first private, manned craft to reach space. It was designed by Rutan and bankrolled by Microsoft Corp. co-founder Paul Allen. Aerospace engineers have been holed up in a Mojave Desert hangar for four years, fashioning a commercial spaceship to loft rich touris... more -
Virgin Galactic to roll out new craft
Virgin Galactic will roll out its new aircraft on July 28:
"the WhiteKnight (WK2) "mothership" -- the world's largest all carbon composite aircraft with a high-altitude lift capacity capable of launching SpaceShipTwo into sub-orbital space flight." Virgin Galactic will roll out its new aircraft on July 28: ... more -
Virgin Galactic shows space plane model
Within a few years, a handful of rich tourists may be blasting into space in a craft that looks a little like a cross between the space shuttle and a corporate jet. Within a few years, a handful of rich tourists may be blasting into space in a craft that looks a little like a cross between the spac... more
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Virgin Galactic unveils space-plane-thing
British billionaire Richard Branson and the aerospace designer Burt Rutan unveiled a model of SpaceShipTwo, the vehicle they hope will be able to take passengers about 62 miles above Earth for the fun of it, with test flights possibly beginning this year. British billionaire Richard Branson and the aerospace designer Burt Rutan unveiled a model of SpaceShipTwo, the vehicle they hope wil... more
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Virgin Galactic Reveals Prototype
Sir Richard gave a peek at the design of Virgin Galactic's soon to launch suborbital ship. Flights are slated to begin in 2009 with trips from New Mexico and Sweden. And no, that's not it in the picture you're looking at. Sir Richard gave a peek at the design of Virgin Galactic's soon to launch suborbital ship. Flights are slated to begin in 2009 w... more
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SpaceShipTwo
Richard Branson's spaceship startup Virgin Galactic unveiled the second design of its suborbital vehicles, SpaceShipTwo and White Knight Two. SpaceShipTwo is the vehicle that passengers will actually ride in, and White Knight Two is the launch vehicle that carries it to a high altitude before ignition. Richard Branson's spaceship startup Virgin Galactic unveiled the second design of its suborbital vehicles, SpaceShipTwo and White... more
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Virgin Galactic's new spaceport design and outer space hotel
Here is a story that I wrote on the new Virgin Spaceport building plans by Norman Foster's architecture firm --the world's first commercial spaceport! Here is a story that I wrote on the new Virgin Spaceport building plans by Norman Foster's architecture firm --the world's f... more
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Finally, we're living in the future
You've probably heard about Virgin Galactic -- well, they just unveiled the design for their spaceport (I repeat: THEIR SPACEPORT) in New Mexico and it looks pretty awesome.
Here is a scene from the year 2013:
YOU: Oh hey Robin, doing anything interesting this weekend?
ME: As a matter of fact, yes. I'M GOING INTO SPACE.
YOU: Oh wow, really? Where are you going to begin your journey?
ME: THE SPACEPORT!!!!!!! You've probably heard about Virgin Galactic -- well, they just unveiled the design for their spaceport (I repeat: THEIR SPACEPORT... more
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Virgin Galactic
