Virgin Reveals World's First Commercial Spaceship
Virgin Galactic this week unveiled the world's first commercial spacecraft.
Yesterday was a big day at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California. Sir Richard Branson unveiled the SpaceShipTwo VSS Enterprise, Virgin Atlantic's first suporbital spaceliner designed to take tourists into space.
Space.com reports that New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson was joined by California Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger for the honor of christening the VSS Enterprise. "I have to tell you that there's a lot of cool things you get to do when you're Governor," said Schwarzenegger. "But today is one of the coolest things that I've ever done."
The VSS Enterprise is in high demand. Monday's unveiling was attended by roughly 300 potential passengers who have already put down at least a deposit on a $200,000 Virgin Galactic ticket.
National Geographic cites ticket holder Adrian Reynard—an Indy-car designer, vehicle-engineering consultant, and in a joint venture with Branson's Virgin Atlantic airline, a supplier to airliner builders—as saying the spaceship is, "aerodynamically beautiful."
"The first thing that strikes you is its size," Reynard said. "It's far bigger than SpaceShipOne," he continued, referring to the reusable manned spacecraft designed by aviation designer Burt Rutan, which won the U.S. $10-million Ansari X Prize in 2004. "This is a massive vehicle, and I can fully understand how [six passengers] will be able to float around in the cabin area."
While the date for the first trip has yet to be decided, it is expected to be sometime in 2011.
Read more about the unveiling here.
Follow us on Twitter for more tech news and exclusive updates here.
- Bogus Reviews Gets App Developer Banned
- Verizon's 3G "Map For That" Campaign Continues
- LG Set to Release 3D LCDs with Full HD
- Google Sues Over Work-At-Home Schemes
- See the N64 Emulator for iPhone 3GS in Action
- Time Warner Wants Subscribers to Fight Networks
- N64 Mini is Tiny, Portable Nintendo 64
- Storm8: We're Not Collecting Private iPhone Data
- Sony's PlayStation Turns 15
- Warner, Sony BMG, EMI, Universal Sued for Piracy
- Say Hello to Mass Effect 2's Engineer Class
- Pictured: The U.S. Air Force's PS3 Cluster Set-up
- Google Goggles to Be Released on Other Platforms
- Publishers Team Up to Take on Amazon
- AT&T Cracking Down on Cell Data Usage
- Mobile Devices with Multi-Core Processors by 2013
- 1 Gbps Wi-Fi In Development
- Wireless HD Video Transfer Standard Final
- Latest Mobility Miscellaneous News
- 07/27 – SanDisk Launches its Smallest USB Drive Yet
- 07/23 – Microsoft Licenses ARM CPU Technology
- 07/08 – New iPod Touch May Get 2 Cameras, FaceTime
- 07/01 – Solar Cell Speakers Accepts USB, SD Media
- 07/01 – Chinese Students Forced into Foxconn Internships
- All Mobility Miscellaneous news
This is so awesome. But it is nothing but show until one actually goes into space. SS2 is NOT SS1...
Hmmm so this is what we do when our state is in debt...Make a billion dollar commercial space craft...Hey maybe it will bring in lots of tourism to repay the cost of ship then help fill california's debt..or wait...huh?
But will it make the jump to hyperspace and the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs?
I don't know...
Something tells me I don't want to be on the first ride into space on that huge monster. The concept is awesome, the reality of things that can go wrong is just to scary! I would be like "Bones" from the new Star Trek movie.
This was on Yahoo! news yesterday.
I'd hate to be one of the very first passengers to be on that flight. I wouldn't trust it for a second until it has made 1-2 years of flight. Don't feel like getting blown up here.
300 people = hot demand?
It does when each person is paying $200,000. Granted the startup costs are extreme, but this aircraft (hopefully) is designed to last many years and I can imagine the demand would only increase as time goes on, IF they don't scare everyone off by then with a minor catastrophe.
Hmmm so this is what we do when our state is in debt...Make a billion dollar commercial space craft...Hey maybe it will bring in lots of tourism to repay the cost of ship then help fill california's debt..or wait...huh?
This is not California's plane. Its Virgin ATlantic's.
But will it make the jump to hyperspace and the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs?
Great kid! Don't get penis-y!
I don't know...Something tells me I don't want to be on the first ride into space on that huge monster. The concept is awesome, the reality of things that can go wrong is just to scary! I would be like "Bones" from the new Star Trek movie.
what do you mean "new" star trek movie ... the character bones has always had a technology phobia , all teh old moviesa dn the series
If this thing can't cloak, then we're just sitting ducks up there...
Word.
Tom's didn't use the "shuttle cock" description. Conspiracy alert.
Colonel Sandurz: Prepare ship for light speed.
Dark Helmet: No, no, no, light speed is too slow.
Colonel Sandurz: Light speed, too slow?
Dark Helmet: Yes, we're gonna have to go right to ludicrous speed.
Great kid! Don't get penis-y!
"Look at the size of that thing!"
now im not an expert in aerodynamics or indeed rocket science, but i reckon it definitely needs more engines, c'mon - four cant be enough.....
Will there be a coupon day for us average Joe's to known space travel?
now im not an expert in aerodynamics or indeed rocket science, but i reckon it definitely needs more engines, c'mon - four cant be enough.....
If I remember correctly this is the mothership.
It will carry a rocket powered plance under it. This thing will fly super high, release the rocket plane which is the one that will go to space.
pretty cool civilions will be able to go in space but only if your rich
But will it make the jump to hyperspace and the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs?
but can it go to ludicrous speed?!
Is it turbine propellers? I thought there is no air in space
))
I would want more description about this spacecraft. How many times you can reuse it. Comparison details to NASA spacecraft.
Is it again 5min of real space time or it is more this time?
Can it play Crysis though? Lol!
On topic: This thing is great, I hope they stay in business with it because it would be terrible if this was a bust... A giant step backwards for mankind i say
300 people = hot demand? I'm in the wrong business.
Hey, $60,000,000 is nothing to scoff at, especially when the public is unsure about this kind of technology.
Captain Jean Luc Picard of the USS ENTERPRISE..
I would hold my horses, until at least servicepack 1 -to the thingie arrive!
Is it turbine propellers? I thought there is no air in space))I would want more description about this spacecraft. How many times you can reuse it. Comparison details to NASA spacecraft. Is it again 5min of real space time or it is more this time?
Yea, I don't get it. What is taking this thing into space? Turbines taking it so far, then rockets propelling it the rest of the way???
No one commenting on that title? The company name is Virgin Galactic... The title makes think this was a joke against the person pulling the curtain open...
haha "Before boarding, we need you to sign this waiver......"
Jet engines work in space now, ey? The wonders of physics bending technologies.
how many parsecs per dilithium crystal?
How does a jet engine work in space with no air?
Will there be a coupon day for us average Joe's to known space travel?
Don't worry, There will be LogicBuy's coupons in THG news for this space trip. Just enter the news, click Get Deal.