THIS IS A SAFE RACE, NOT A SPACE RACE.

After its dramatic unveiling in December 2009, SpaceShipTwo embarked on its test flight program in March with the inaugural 'captive carry flight', meaning it was coupled to its revolutionary carrier aircraft, WhiteKnightTwo.  Subsequent testing is ongoing and in this Space Bulletin is all about SpaceShipTwo and what you can expect to see from its test flight program over the next few years...

Watch the inaugural 'captive carry' flight here.

Burt Rutan & Sir Richard Branson with SpaceShipTwo.

A conceptual image of the SpaceShipTwo cabin.

A rocket motor test firing in March 2009.

SpaceShipTwo is the world’s first spacecraft purposely developed for commercial sub-orbital spaceflight.

The space testing program now under way is designed to ensure that the system and passenger experience are safe and ready to take you on the ride of your life!

SpaceShipTwo is flown by two pilots and will seat six passengers.  Everybody will have a window seat and the multiple porthole size windows are around twice the size of normal aircraft windows. Prepare to enjoy the breathtaking vistas of space and Earth no matter which way up you are floating! 

Spaceflight participants can expect a cabin around the same size as a medium corporate jet except that there is no dividing floor like ordinary aircraft. Instead the entire tubular shape of the fuselage is open so as to make the most room possible.

The test flight in March was just the beginning of an extensive program that will not cease until the system is as safe as it can possibly be.  With no actual competitors and only a handful of other companies even talking about offering sub-orbital tourist spaceflights, Virgin Galactic are fully expected to be the first to operate commercial flights. However that is not the priority, safety is our guiding star.  

The new rocket motor to be used in SpaceShipTwo, RocketMotorTwo, is also being tested extensively. 4 full-scale firings have been completed to date.

Over the next few years the world will see Virgin and Scaled Composites pass many testing milestones. Once the captive carry testing is complete there will be ‘drop & glide’ tests and then incremental test flights marrying the rocket to the spaceship which will eventually lead up to flights into space!

Virgin Galactic Accredited Space Agents are the best way to learn more and to become a part of this historic project. They are shepherding a steadily growing number of Future Astronauts, who are personally engaged at every step of the way.

For more information about Virgin Galactic please contact your Accredited Space Agent….

Barbara King 
(913) 338-2244 or barbara@greatgetaways.travel
www.greatgetaways.travel