On the morning of March 22, Virgin Galactic’s White Knight Two aircraft successfully completed its first flight test of carrying the VSS Enterprise, VG’s commercial manned space vehicle, to an altitude of 46,000 feet.
The vehicles departed and landed at the Mojave Air and Spraceport in California. The flight was a victory for Virgin Galactic and its partner Scaled Composites as the White Knight Two completed the latest in a series of test flights that will last through 2010 and into 2011 before the Enterprise carries its first paying passengers to the targeted height of suborbital space flight, 62 miles..
The Enterprise seats six paying passengers intent on achieving weightlessness and seeing the curvature of the earth.
At $200,000 a ticket, the experience will be limited to a few of the wealthy and the those caught up in the romance of manned space flight. Over 330 space-farers have reserved a spot on the Enterprise to experience space first hand.
Burt Rutan, lead designer of the Scaled Composites team, said, ““This is a momentous day for the Scaled and Virgin Teams. The captive carry flight signifies the start of what we believe will be extremely exciting and successful spaceship flight test program.”
Sir Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Galactic added: “Seeing the finished spaceship in December was a major day for us but watching VSS Enterprise fly for the first time really brings home what beautiful, ground-breaking vehicles Burt and his team have developed for us. It comes as no surprise that the flight went so well; the Scaled team is uniquely qualified to bring this important and incredible dream to reality. Today was another major step along that road and a testament to US engineering and innovation.”
To view a video of VSS Enterprise’s flight, go to
Nice post – any issues with interface or feedback for Eric?
Brad