Virgin's Branson reveals 'space mothership'

THE MOTHERSHIP: Virgin Galactic has unveiled its new WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft. (Supplied)

Virgin Galactic has unveiled the new WhiteKnightTwo (WK2) carrier aircraft, set to carry the SpaceShipTwo and private astronauts on the first stage of their trip to space.

Virgin founder Richard Branson and SpaceShipOne designer, Burt Rutan revealed the mothership at a ceremony in Calfornia, US on Monday.

Branson said in a statement that the rollout of WhiteKnightTwo represented “tremendous progress" towards its goal of commercial space operation.

The mothership is the world’s largest all carbon composite aircraft, with a maximum altitude of over 50,000 feet.

The ship's wing span is 140 feet, and it will be able to support up to four daily space flights.

The WK2 has already begun with ground tests and is expected to take its first flight later this year. Tickets for a trip to space carry a hefty price tag of $200,000 per ticket.

Virgin Galactic’s space flights are expected to commence at the end of 2009, and the company has already sold more than 200 tickets globally, representing over $30 million in deposits.

Print | Email | Discuss this article

| Share |

READERS' COMMENTS

Click here to post a comment

Add your Comment All posts are sent to the administrator for review and are published only after approval. ArabianBusiness.com reserves the right to remove any comment at any time for any reason. Please keep your responses appropriate and on topic. Arabian Business would like to point out that only comments relevant to the story will be published. Any containing personal insults or inappropriate language will not be approved.
Name *
Remember me on this computer
Email *	(Your email address will not be published)
City
Country
Subject *
Comment *
Notify me of further comments
Enter the words above *
Please click post only once - your comment will not be published immediately.

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM