Virgin Group

Why Virgin Group so outstanding?

➢ Background of Virgin Galacti

Virgin Galactic, owned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Aabar Investments PJS, is on track to be the world's first commercial spaceline. The new spaceship (SpaceShipTwo, VSS Enterprise) and carrier craft (WhiteKnightTwo, VMS Eve) have both been developed for Virgin Galactic by Mojave-based Scaled Composites. Founded by Burt Rutan, Scaled developed SpaceShipOne, which in 2004 claimed the $10m Ansari X Prize as the world's first privately developed manned spacecraft. Virgin Galactic's new vehicles share much of the same basic design, but are being built to carry six customers, or the equivalent scientific research payload, on sub-orbital space flights, allowing an out-of-the-seat, zero-gravity experience and offering astounding views of the planet from the black sky of space for tourist astronauts and a unique microgravity platform for researchers. The VSS Enterprise and VMS Eve test flight program is well under way, leading to Virgin Galactic commercial operations, which will be based at Spaceport America in New Mexico.

Richard.2009. Introducing Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo. [online] Available at: http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/blog/introducing-virgin-galactic-spaceshiptwo. [Accessed December 28 2011].

← Virgin Galactic is truly revolutionizing the way people go to space

Virgin Galactic, a group within Richard Branson's Virgin Group, has moved a step closer to sending regular (albeit wealthy) citizens into space. That's because the firm has confirmed that Keith Colmer, a former US Air Force test pilot, will be one of the astronaut pilots to help carry tourists on suborbital space flights. In a statement, Virgin Atlantic confirmed that Mr Colmer will work alongside chief pilot David Mackay to take people into the cosmos. Mr Colmer boasts combat and test flight experience, while he also has experience in spacecraft operations. As part of the rigorous application process, he was...