PRE TEST FLIGHT ROLL OUT OF WHITEKNIGHTTWO
As dawn broke over the Mojave Desert on the morning of July 28th, WK2 waited in hanger 62 at Scaled Composites, ready to be rolled out to the world’s press and Virgin Galactic’s customers.
This anticipated event drew several hundred press and broadcast media, Virgin Galactic customers and VIP guests from all around the world to Los Angeles, all eager to witness this historic event.
The pre-test flight Roll Out of WK2 marked a milestone in aerospace history and a very tangible evidence on the progress of the world’s first sub orbital commercial spaceline. WK2 is the world’s largest, all carbon composite aircraft with a unique high altitude lift capacity, capable of launching SpaceShipTwo and its eight astronauts into sub-orbital space flight.
It was important for Virgin Galactic and Scaled Composites to celebrate this historic event not just with the world’s press but also with our valued customers; it also provided a timely opportunity to congratulate the engineers whose skill and dedication produced such an amazing vehicle.
VIRGIN GALACTIC FUTURE ASTRONAUTS VISIT THE NORTH OF SWEDEN
Virgin Galactic worked closely with the Swedish Space Corporation and the IceHotel to put together an exiting programme for our future astronauts toward the end of March. On landing in Kiruna in the north of Sweden on a specially chartered plane from London, our future astronauts were taken by husky dog drawn sleds to the IceHotel via the Wilderness Centre.
59TH INTERNATIONAL ASTRONAUTICAL CONGRESS GLASGOW, SCOTLAND
Between the 29th September and 3rd October, Virgin Galactic is planning to participate in the International Astronomical Congress which is being held in Glasgow in the world class Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre situated on the banks of the River Clyde. This annual event is the world’s premier commercial and government space conference. Will Whitehorn is scheduled to give a Highlight lecture with Sir Martin Sweeting on Tuesday 30th September on low cost access to space. Virgin Galactic is also participating in the Host Nation Stand and will exhibit the model of SS2/WK2 along with recent images and footage of the WhiteKnightTwo roll out.
ACCREDITED SPACE AGENT UPDATE
Virgin Galactic has now appointed, trained and accredited 105 Accredited Space Agents in 34 countries. Latest on the list include representatives from South America. Full details of all our Accredited Space Agents and how to contact them can be found on www.virgingalactic.com.
STILL WANT MORE?
For more information and to register your interest in flying with Virgin Galactic, or just for updates on progress, you can visit their website at www.virgingalactic.com.
Hello there!
Thank you for making this round up with this interesting news about Virgin Galactic! I would love to someday do one of these flights! The sensation of feeling weight less must be awesome!
I went to an expo about tourism in the beginning of this year, and these flights were for sale, they are still out of this world of expensive. It would be cheaper to buy a house then to go on one of these flights!