Virgin Galatic Sir Richard Branson Burt Rutan

Richard Branson of Virgin Galatic, http://www.virgingalactic.com/, christened WhiteKnightTwo, VMS Eve after Richard Branson's mother, was revealed to the public for the first time in July 2008 and started its test flight program later that year. At the first roll-out in Mojave it was described as an aviation milestone and for good reason: it is the largest all carbon composite aviation vehicle ever built and the most fuel efficient of its size. It has a unique capability to carry heavy payload (around 35,0000lbs) to high altitude (around 50,000ft) and a range of over 2000 nautical miles. Remarkably, for a vehicle of its size, it is also capable of performing high and zero g maneuvers.
UPDATE: 3.22.2010 Virgin Galactic announced today that VSS Enterprise has completed her inaugural captive carry flight from Mojave Air and Spaceport.

This very first captive carry was a huge success and both the mothership and spaceship looked absolutely stunning against the blue back drop of the Mojave skies.

Commenting on the historic flight, Burt Rutan 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.

The VSS Enterprise test flight programme will continue though 2010 and 2011, progressing from captive carry to independent glide and then powered flight, prior to the start of commercial operations.

The Bigger the boys, the bigger their toys..you have to love and admire these guys.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Branson+Burt
• Rutan+space
• travel+Virgin
• Galactic

[Mattycnw]

Heylo! Any chance of sending me the audio of this track? I'd reallly appreciate it! Let Matty know :)

LPL!!! <3

[Commonsensitivity]

@Mattycnw it is on youtube as an audioswap give me a few to try to find the name.

[Commonsensitivity]

@Mattycnw Okay since I can't figure out the name and I've been through audio swap I have gotten a bit coser by saying I'm pretty sure it's under Musicshake because light Symphony, Space Rhymes sound like this one. I'll keep trying.

[darian1968]

was that 35,000 lbs or 35,0000? to be 350,000? what was the error if any? explain thanks

[Commonsensitivity]

@darian1968 Taken from Galatic website: It has a unique capability to carry heavy payload (around 35,0000lbs) to high altitude (around 50,000ft) and a range of over 2000 nautical miles. Remarkably, for a vehicle of its size, it is also capable of performing high and zero g maneuvers.

[Mattycnw]

Still love the video and the music.... did you ever find the name of the track? Would love to use it as a backing track