This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/sci/tech/8400353.stm
The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
Roll-out for Branson's spaceliner | Roll-out for Branson's spaceliner |
(about 1 hour later) | |
By Jonathan Amos Science correspondent, BBC News Advertisement | |
Rajesh Mirchandani takes a look at the SpaceShipTwo rocket | |
Sir Richard Branson is unveiling the rocket plane he will use to take fare-paying passengers into space. | Sir Richard Branson is unveiling the rocket plane he will use to take fare-paying passengers into space. |
SpaceShipTwo is being presented to the world in Mojave, California. | SpaceShipTwo is being presented to the world in Mojave, California. |
The vehicle will undergo testing over the next 18 months before being allowed to take ticketed individuals on short-hop trips just above the atmosphere. | The vehicle will undergo testing over the next 18 months before being allowed to take ticketed individuals on short-hop trips just above the atmosphere. |
Sir Richard, who heads the Virgin Group, intends to run the first flights out of New Mexico before extending operations around the globe. | Sir Richard, who heads the Virgin Group, intends to run the first flights out of New Mexico before extending operations around the globe. |
Built from lightweight carbon composite materials and powered by a hybrid rocket motor, SS2 is based on the X-Prize-winning SpaceShipOne concept - a rocket plane that is lifted initially by a carrier vehicle before blasting skywards. | Built from lightweight carbon composite materials and powered by a hybrid rocket motor, SS2 is based on the X-Prize-winning SpaceShipOne concept - a rocket plane that is lifted initially by a carrier vehicle before blasting skywards. |
"We want this programme to be a whole new beginning in a commercial era of space travel," Sir Richard told reporters before the official unveiling. | "We want this programme to be a whole new beginning in a commercial era of space travel," Sir Richard told reporters before the official unveiling. |
SS1 became the world's first private spaceship with a series of high-altitude flights in 2004. | SS1 became the world's first private spaceship with a series of high-altitude flights in 2004. |
Its successor, however, is twice as large, measuring 18m (60ft) in length. And whereas SpaceShipOne only had a single pilot (and the ballast equivalent of two passengers), SS2 will have a crew of two and room for six passengers. | Its successor, however, is twice as large, measuring 18m (60ft) in length. And whereas SpaceShipOne only had a single pilot (and the ballast equivalent of two passengers), SS2 will have a crew of two and room for six passengers. |
About 300 individuals are reported to have signed up for a flight. They are all willing to pay about $200,000 (£121,000) for the privilege of experiencing six minutes of weightlessness during what will be a two-hour end-to-end flight. | About 300 individuals are reported to have signed up for a flight. They are all willing to pay about $200,000 (£121,000) for the privilege of experiencing six minutes of weightlessness during what will be a two-hour end-to-end flight. |
"It's incredible to think only 450 people have ever been into space; that's including all the Russians, all the Chinese and all the Americans put together," Sir Richard told BBC News. | |
"We should be able to enable with our new commercial spaceship company, Virgin Galactic, to take maybe 1,000 people and make them into 'astronauts' in the 12 months once we start." | |
Many of those future astronauts are attending the VIP unveiling at the Mojave Air and Spaceport. Among them is the British singer and dancer Sarah Brightman, who famously had a disco hit early in her career called I Lost My Heart to a Starship Trooper. | |
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson will christen the spaceliner Virgin SpaceShip (VSS) Enterprise. | California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson will christen the spaceliner Virgin SpaceShip (VSS) Enterprise. |
The New Mexico authorities are investing almost $200m (£121m) in a purpose-built facility in Upham. It will have a 3,000m (10,000ft) runway and a suitably space-age terminal and hangar building designed by Foster and Partners. | The New Mexico authorities are investing almost $200m (£121m) in a purpose-built facility in Upham. It will have a 3,000m (10,000ft) runway and a suitably space-age terminal and hangar building designed by Foster and Partners. |
Sir Richard's Virgin Galactic enterprise will have competitors but he is almost certain to be the first to market, barring any problems arising in the test campaign. | Sir Richard's Virgin Galactic enterprise will have competitors but he is almost certain to be the first to market, barring any problems arising in the test campaign. |
SpaceShipTwo's carrier plane is called WhiteKnightTwo. It was finished last year and has already begun its own trials. | SpaceShipTwo's carrier plane is called WhiteKnightTwo. It was finished last year and has already begun its own trials. |
Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk |