posted September 27, 2004 05:54 AM               

Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson has announced his company has signed an agreement worth £14m to secure the first commercial flights into space.

The deal with the US firm which owns the technology could be worth millions over the next 15 years, depending on the number of space vehicles built.

posted September 27, 2004 09:20 AM               

Virgin Group Sign Deal with Paul G. Allen's Mojave Aerospace; Licensing the Technology To Develop The World's First Commercial Space Tourism Operator

Sept. 27, 2004--Today, Sir Richard Branson announced that Virgin Group has entered into an agreement to license the technology to develop the world's first privately funded spaceships dedicated to carrying commercial passengers on space flights. The technology is currently owned by a Paul Allen company called Mojave Aerospace Ventures ('M.A.V.') and was originally developed to fulfil Paul Allen's vision of building the world's first privately funded, reusable space vehicle ('SpaceShipOne'), which will undertake its first Ansari X Prize flight later this week. The licensing deal with M.A.V. could be worth up to GBP 14 million ($21.5 million) over the next fifteen years depending on the number of spaceships built by Virgin.

SpaceShipOne, which is solely funded by Paul G. Allen, was designed by aviation legend Burt Rutan and built by his company, Scaled Composites. On June 21st Mike Melvill piloted this unique craft to a height of 100 km (62 miles) and into the history books and record books as the world's first private manned space flight. Separately to Virgin's agreement with M.A.V., the company has also signed a Letter of Intent to agree contract terms with Burt Rutan and Scaled Composites, to utilise the technology in building new spaceships and derivatives thereof, for the purposes of carrying paying passengers on a journey to the stars -- returning to earth as astronauts two hours later.

Virgin has formed Virgin Galactic ('V.G.') a new company, which will become the world's first commercial space tourism operator. It is envisaged that Virgin Galactic will open for business by the beginning of 2005 and subject to the necessary safety and regulatory approvals begin operating flights from 2007. The name was first registered and trade mark protection applied for in the mid 1990s. It is expected that around GBP 60 million ($100 million) will be invested in developing the new generation of spaceships and ground infrastructure required to operate a sub orbital space tourism experience. Over five years Virgin expects to create around 3000 astronauts and the price per seat on each flight, which will include at least three days of pre-flight training, are expected to start at around GBP 115,000 ($190,000). Virgin will reinvest the proceeds in developing a new generation of vehicles for further space ventures. To date the cheapest space tourism experiences in government built and taxpayer funded spaceships cost over $15,000,000 per seat.

As a prelude to these exciting developments Virgin is also very pleased to have agreed terms to sponsor SpaceShipOne on its historic Ansari X Prize flights later this week and in early October.

Commenting on the announcement, Virgin Galactic Founder Sir Richard Branson said: "We've always had a dream of developing a space tourism business and Paul Allen's vision, combined with Burt Rutan's technological brilliance, have brought that dream a step closer to reality. The deals with both their companies, being announced today, are just the start of what we believe will be a new era in the history of mankind, making the affordable exploration of space by human beings real. We hope to create thousands of astronauts over the next few years and bring alive their dream of seeing the majestic beauty of our planet from above, the stars in all their glory and the amazing sensation of weightlessness. The development will also allow every country in the world to have their own astronauts rather than the privileged few."

Welcoming the deal Paul Allen added: "I backed the development of SpaceShipOne because I saw this as a great opportunity to demonstrate that space exploration could someday be within the reach of private citizens. Today's deal with Virgin represents the next stage in the evolution of the SpaceShipOne concept, and will likely be the first of a number of deals that will utilize the technology developed during its creation. I am very happy to have Virgin and Richard Branson as sponsors of our X-Prize attempt and excited about space tourism."

Burt Rutan, Founder of Scaled Composites, concluded: "Apart from building SpaceShipOne for Paul and then watching it fly to space on June 21st this is one of the most exciting days of my life. Our June space flight was flown with several new technologies that address both the cost and safety of manned space flight. These, combined with the lessons learned from our SpaceShipOne research program, will enable us to develop the finest suborbital operational systems possible. I am looking forward to getting started on the development program and the opportunity to work with Virgin on taking Paul Allen's vision to the next stage."

It is expected that Virgin Galactic will formally commence the contractual and design phase of the project after the conclusion of the Ansari X Prize flights and start construction of the first spaceship, the 'VSS ENTERPRISE' in 2005.

This transaction is subject to all necessary government approvals.

To register your interest in Virgin Galactic please log on to: www.virgingalactic.com

posted September 28, 2004 08:02 AM               

If successful the price is sure to drop dramatically so I'll hold fire with the advanced booking just yet. A future space trip lottery will be more viable than ever.

posted October 05, 2004 10:19 AM               

What does the future hold for SpaceShipOne? After yesterday's flight, did Rutan give any indication whether it's time for SS1 to be retired to the Smithsonian, or does he yet have plans for her?

What is SpaceShipTwo? Rutan publically acknowledged yesterday that he's working on SS2, but I didn't hear any details as to what it will be. I know he's working on a five-person SS1-derived craft for Virgin Galactic, but wasn't sure if that's SS2 or not.

posted October 05, 2004 11:32 AM               

This segment was the first time that I can remember Rutan ever sharing (publicly) his future plans to this degree. That said, given Rutan's tendency towards keeping his projects secret until they are ready to fly, it is equally likely that what he shared on TV were projects he had either completely redesigned or had rejected.

Its unlikely, though not implausible, that Branson will have flight use of the original SS1. He is paying to license the design and for Scaled to develop a larger version, not to own the X Prize craft. That said, there have been reports that DARPA has expressed interest in use of SS1 and that Rutan has suggested using it to loft science experiments.

posted October 05, 2004 12:12 PM               

Burt is a man who doesn't give away any real secrets, even to his guys at Scaled.

posted October 06, 2004 10:12 AM               

Before it is decommissioned, however, Rutan wants to use the ship as a flight test bed for his next project, SpaceShipTwo, the first of a fleet of five-passenger tourist ships.

posted October 10, 2004 05:30 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
He made the comment that SpaceShip-"One"/Tier One refers to any of his suborbital projects, while SpaceShip-Two/Tier Two refers to orbital vehicles.

---

Revising my earlier comment having just re-watched "Black Sky":

posted December 21, 2004 11:14 AM               

I think we’ll move on and our future space flying will be done with SpaceShipTwo instead of SpaceshipOne.

We’re developing a much bigger spaceship named SpaceShipTwo, one that could carry nine people and allow them to float around the cabin when they are weightless. It would also fly higher, and further down range. So this is going to be a craft that could do sustainable business for a long time, flying thousands of people.

posted August 23, 2005 09:21 AM               

Orbital vehicle SpaceShipThree (SS3) will be developed by space tourism company Virgin Galactic and Mojave-based SpaceShipTwo (SS2)-developer Scaled Composites, if the planned SS2 suborbital service is successful, says Virgin Galactic president Will White horn.

SpaceShipThree is planned for Scaled’s tier 2 manned space programme, while the nine-person SpaceShipTwo is part of the current tier 1b programme.

posted December 13, 2005 03:55 PM            

quote:

---

Virgin Galactic, the British company created by entrepreneur Richard Branson to send tourists into space, and New Mexico announced an agreement Tuesday for the state to build a $225 million spaceport.

---

posted February 13, 2006 10:52 AM            

The only clue I could see was the line of portholes appear to follow the nose curve on model whereas on real SS1 they are inline?

But, I wouldn't put a bet on it. Not yet awhile.

They'll have to be thinking of trials toward end 2006/early 2007 if they want go 'in service' for 2008? Because aren't they having to develop a White Knight II as well to cater for larger SS2?

posted April 03, 2006 04:05 AM            

• The SS2 and WK2 will have the same common fuselage and will use same composite technology as the GlobalFlyer aircraft.

• A new hybrid engine is being developed for SS2.

• SS2 will carry 7 passengers and 2 pilots.

• Pilots from within Virgin Airways commercial airline are being trained as SS2 pilots.

• WK2 is three times larger than WK1.

• The WK2 will have a wingspan similar to a 757.

• Wing spoilers are to be added.

• SS2 will use a nose skid like SS1 did.

• SS2 will return at 5g but Virgin and others working to get this down to a lower level.

posted June 12, 2006 06:17 PM               

SS2, which now carries six passengers and two pilots, and its carrier aircraft White Knight 2 (WK2), are under construction. However, neither will be unveiled until late 2007, when flight tests are expected. WK2, with a wingspan expected to be 34-38m (112-124ft), would air launch SS2 1h into the flight. When the new hybrid rocket motor is fired, passengers will experience 4g on the ascent to an apogee of 140km...

During the 5min of weightlessness, passengers could float around, but for the descent they will have to be back on their reclined seats, needed for passengers to cope with the expected 7g re-entry loads.

posted July 25, 2006 01:57 PM            

SS2's interior will be unveiled on 28 September 2006 - so we may get to 'guess' at the shape and size of SS2.

posted August 25, 2006 07:04 AM            

The UK-led MUSTARD study (three similarly shaped shuttle-like vehicles) envisaged a launch from a base near Newcastle-on-Tyne out across the North Sea and the base units would have performed flyback to the launch site while the orbital unit would have carried on upwards into orbit.

Also, sounding rockets have been launchesd from several northern UK sites and,of course,the Spadeadam rocket engine test site is located not too far from Carlisle.

posted September 28, 2006 05:24 PM               

Virgin Galactic and Sir Richard Branson at New York's WIRED NextFest today showcased their first representative mock-up of the passenger interior of SpaceShipTwo (SS2), set in a scaled-up version of a SpaceShipOne (SS1) to reflect the relative larger size of SS2.

SS2 will be three times larger than SS1 (with an interior approximately the size of a Gulf Stream IV corporate jet) and when developed, the carrier aircraft WhiteKnightTwo (WK2) will be larger than a Boeing 757. Virgin Galactic's SS2 and WK2 are currently under construction at Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites at the Mojave Spaceport in California. It is expected that SS2 and WK2 will be rolled out of the factory in the latter half of 2007, to begin test flights by early 2008 and with commercial operations to commence in 2009.

Designed by Seymour Powell, whose prior work includes Casio's G-Shock watches, the conceptual interior features six passenger seats with two pilot astronaut' seats forward of the bulkhead. Other features include:

• fully pressurized cabin at all stages of flight (though Virgin Galactic is currently considering the use of pressure suits and helmets for its passengers);

• tetherless seating to allow passengers the freedom to float about the cabin during the microgravity phase of flight; if passengers cannot make it back to their seats in the 40 seconds provided, then they may safely reenter lying on the floor;

• reclining seats to minimize the effects of increased G-forces on reentry (as well as permit more flying room when weightless;

• access to large windows (approximately 15) strategically placed around the cabin and in the floor;

• possible wireless data/video recorders for hands-free capture and live streaming to family on the ground and on-board WK2;

• WK2 will share the same cabin layout as SS2 to allow for pre-space flight parabolic training sessions;

• Virgin Galactic may sell seats on WK2 to allow spectators to watch a space launch from a unique vantage point, including sales to family members of SS2 crews;

• The representation of SS2 in animations released today and to support the mock-up interior were purposely designed to be vague as to protect Scaled Composite's intellectual property. The actual appearance of SS2 will not be seen "until it rolls out of the hangar";

• It is planned that SS2 will fly more unmanned test space flights before carrying paying passengers than all of NASA's manned flights to date;

• In addition to tourism flights, Virgin Galactic has designed SS2 to accomodate point to point travel, such as trips between London and Australia "in 30 minutes," says Branson;

• SpaceShipThree (SS3) will be aimed at science and payload delivery;

Sir Richard Branson inside the mock-up cabin:

Sir Richard Branson with Alan Watts, who has traded in two million Virgin Atlantic frequent flyer miles for a ride on SS2:

posted September 28, 2006 08:45 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
Virgin Galactic President Will Whitehorn also shared details about other aspects of the development of SS2 and WK2, as well as future plans for the company: ...It is planned that SS2 will fly more unmanned test space flights before carrying paying passengers than all of NASA's manned flights to date...

---

By my count, there have been 116 manned NASA Shuttle flights, plus 11+3+1 manned Apollo flights, plus 10 manned gemini flights, plus 6 manned Mercury flights, for a total of 147 manned NASA flights to date. (Not counting NASA astronauts on Soyuz vehicles.)

So is Whitehorn really predicting more than 147 "unmanned test space flights" before "carrying paying passengers"? Will there be Virgin Galactic/Scaled Composite/The Spaceship Company pilots aboard these "unmanned" flights?

Again by my count, SS1 flew 6 powered flights, 8 glide flights and 3 captive flights, for a total of 17 manned SS1 flights in the whole program, and no unmanned flights.

How can SS2 realy require that many more test flights, even if it is a super advanced derivative of SS1? Or am I missing something blindingly fundamental?

posted September 28, 2006 09:21 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by John Charles:
How can SS2 realy require that many more test flights, even if it is a super advanced derivative of SS1? Or am I missing something blindingly fundamental?

---

I think it is worth noting that before we actually take any passengers on-board, we will actually be doing more flights into space than NASA has done flights in the history of NASA. So its going to be a very well tried and tested spacecraft before passengers actually come on-board.

Whitehorn explained that while they anticipate no problem receiving insurance for third party liability (as SpaceShipOne had), the insurance market has told them that it will be several years into passenger operations before they will be able to offer a personal liability package. Individuals may be able to purchase coverage for themselves earlier (at what is sure to be high premiums) but Virgin Galactic will need to prove to the market that they have a safe vehicle before they become comfortable with extending protection.

posted September 30, 2006 08:05 PM            

quote:

---

Originally posted by E2M Lem Man:
I know that many other Newspace companies are planning to meet or surpass what the Federal Aviation Administration requires for any new airliner before it carries passengers. That is nearly 200 flights [snip]

---

Okay, so based on responses by "Lem Man" and Robert Pearlman, and parsing what Will Whitehorn was quoted as having really said, the number 147 (or 200) sounds like a reasonable number of SS2 flights before *some parameter* reaches an acceptable level. Maybe paying passengers on flights 1 through 146 will be self-insured?

But did Whitehorn really not say the words "unmanned test flights"?

posted September 30, 2006 08:39 PM               

quote:

---

Originally posted by John Charles:
But did Whitehorn really not say the words "unmanned test flights"?

---

posted December 28, 2006 07:38 AM               

Approximately 75 pilots will be required to operate the SpaceShipTwo fleet.

The first announcements regarding Virgin Galactic flight personnel were made in late March 2006.

• Steve Johnson (Virgin Atlantic training captain, ex-Red Arrows pilot): Chief Astronaut Pilot
  
• Alastair Hoy (Virgin Atlantic training captain, ex-Red Arrows pilot): Chief Training Astronaut
  
• David MacKay (Virgin Atlantic line captain): Test pilot

Virgin Galactic flight training will last 27 months: pilots will receive nine months of aerobatic, fast jet and executive jet training to prepare them for zero gravity flight. The next nine months will be spent in flying the White Knight Two mothership and participating in Mission Control work. The final nine months will be spent flying Virgin Galactic spacecraft into space.

From 2008, Virgin Galactic expects to have around thirty astronaut pilots recruited from the various Virgin Group airlines, trained with NASA assistance.

posted February 01, 2007 08:16 AM               

Coming soon! Virgin Galactic Spaceship 2
Tuesday 13 – Friday 23 February 2007

To celebrate the rapid advances in space travel, the Science Museum is showcasing a mock-up cabin of the world’s first ever vehicle for space tourism – the Virgin Galactic Spaceship 2. It has never been seen before in the UK and will be on display at the Science Museum from Tuesday 13 February. The model, designed by British design firm Seymour Powell, shows a unique vehicle which combines the technology of an aeroplane with a rocket and is predicted to be able to take tourists into space from as early as 2008!

Visitors will be able to view 9m long, 12 seater spacecraft cabin and gain an amazing insight into the experience of being one of the first non-professional astronaut travellers to embark on a leisure cruise into space.

posted January 23, 2008 10:44 AM               

_{SpaceShipTwo in flight (Virgin Galactic)}

Virgin Galactic today unveiled the design of its new, environmentally benign, space launch system based on the X Prize winning technology of SpaceShipOne, which successfully flew into space for the third time in October 2004 and won the $10m Ansari X Prize.

The construction of the White Knight Two (WK2) mothership, or carrier aircraft, is now very close to completion at Scaled Composites in Mojave, CA and is expected to begin flight testing in the summer of 2008. It is the world's largest, all carbon composite aircraft; it has a unique high altitude lift capacity, capable of launching SpaceShipTwo and its eight astronauts into sub-orbital space flight. The WK2 mothership is powered by four Pratt and Whitney PW308A engines which are amongst the most powerful, economic and efficient engines available. The WK2 mothership has also been designed to be capable of lifting other payload and launching it into space. Both Scaled Composites and Virgin Galactic believe the system has sufficient lifting capability to launch unmanned vehicles designed to carry small satellites and other scientific payload into low earth orbit. While the first priority for Virgin Galactic is developing the market for human spaceflight, the Company is already assessing the potential for unmanned launch capability.

SpaceShipTwo is now nearly 60% complete. It incorporates both the lessons learned from the SpaceShipOne program and the market research conducted by Virgin Galactic into the requirements future astronauts have for their space flight experience. It also has built-in flexibility to encompass future requirements for other scientific and commercial applications.

Whilst the two vehicles comprising the space launch system have been under construction, Virgin Galactic's cadre of future astronauts has continued to grow strongly to well in excess of 200 individuals with around 85,000 registrations of interest to fly. The deposit base now exceeds $30m representing more than $45m of future income to the fledgling spaceline.

Astronaut orientation for spaceflight is progressing well and already 80 of SpaceShipTwo's first passengers have been through medical assessment and centrifuge training at the NASTAR facility in Philadelphia. During their G Force acclimatization program, the participants were spun to 3.5GZ (head to toe) and 6GX (front to back) to simulate the actual flight profile of SpaceShipTwo during a 110km (68 miles) apogee sub-orbital space flight.

Commenting on the unveiling, Burt Rutan, CEO of Scaled Composites, said: "Virgin Galactic produced a demanding output specification for the world's first private human and payload space launch system. This required us to produce a safe but flexible design capable of multiple applications in new market sectors. I am confident that these vehicles, now in an advanced stage of construction, will achieve just that. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the whole team at Scaled Composites. "Looking up - way up!" is an expression we have shared since the X Prize began and now we are all excited that this year the dream will start to become a very tangible reality for everyone involved."

Sir Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Galactic, added: "The designs of both the mothership and the new spaceship are absolutely beautiful and surpass any expectations for the future of commercial spaceflight that we had when first registering the name Virgin Galactic in 1999. Burt and his team have done a fantastic job and I am also delighted with the wonderful vision that Foster and Partners, working with URS, have shown in the final designs for Spaceport America in New Mexico. Finally, we are all very excited about the prospect of being able to develop a bio-fuel solution for the space launch system and we are looking forward to working with Pratt and Whitney and Virgin Fuels to trial an appropriate bio mix for the PW308A engines that will be powering our new carrier aircraft."

In addition to the unveil of the space launch system, a model of the final design for Spaceport America was put on public display for the first time. Situated in Sierra County, New Mexico, Spaceport America will be the world's first custom designed private spaceport. It has been designed with environmental considerations to the fore and its highly innovative structure will use a combination of geo-thermal, solar and wind power to create a very low carbon footprint. Virgin Galactic is also looking at the opportunities of operating from other locations worldwide and is already investigating the feasibility of operating from Spaceport Sweden.

Virgin Galactic will make further announcements regarding the progress of the launch system, development of its markets, the test flying program and start of commercial operations at Spaceport America in due course.

_{SpaceShipTwo cabin (Virgin Galactic)}

_{WhiteKnightTwo construction (Virgin Galactic)}

posted January 23, 2008 01:32 PM            

After the recent setbacks at Scaled which saw the loss of two friends, these ships will serve as a tribute to their sacrifice.

The rollout of these vehicles is a wonderful way to celebrate 50 years of space exploration!