Edmund RossEdmund Ross

Virgin Galactic is…Virgin Galactic is…

A revolutionary new company with ambitions A revolutionary new company with ambitions to make public space flight common, and to make public space flight common, and

affordable. The company is owned and affordable. The company is owned and established by Richard Branson’s Virgin established by Richard Branson’s Virgin

Group Ltd. Group Ltd.

SpaceShipOne and White Night Carrier Aircraft during SpaceShipOne and White Night Carrier Aircraft during test flighttest flight

October 4th, 2004

Technology that makes affordable Technology that makes affordable space flight possible:space flight possible:

Newly developed Light weight materials that are ideal Newly developed Light weight materials that are ideal for the extreme journey from Earth to the very edge of for the extreme journey from Earth to the very edge of space and back.space and back.

The ability of the Space craft to “Feather” its wings to The ability of the Space craft to “Feather” its wings to increase stability and control of the vehicle during increase stability and control of the vehicle during reentry.reentry.

The energy saving technique of mid-air rocket launch.The energy saving technique of mid-air rocket launch.

The Testing ProgramThe Testing ProgramA company named Scaled A company named Scaled

Composites, located in La Composites, located in La Jolla California, was given Jolla California, was given the job of developing the first the job of developing the first prototype space craft, prototype space craft, SpaceShipOne, and carrier SpaceShipOne, and carrier aircraft, White Night. aircraft, White Night.

SpaceShipOne Prototype compared to SpaceShipTwo, the SpaceShipOne Prototype compared to SpaceShipTwo, the highly anticipated first commercial space crafthighly anticipated first commercial space craft

SpaceShipOne SpaceShipOne MissionMission

SpaceShipOne has a SpaceShipOne has a journey of about 50 miles journey of about 50 miles near vertical at Mach 3.06 near vertical at Mach 3.06

with a 6 minute sub-with a 6 minute sub-orbital weightless flight, orbital weightless flight,

before gently gliding back before gently gliding back down to Earthdown to Earth

Achievements of the ProgramAchievements of the Program Won the Ansari X Prize on October 4, 2004 (by reaching 100 Won the Ansari X Prize on October 4, 2004 (by reaching 100

kilometers in altitude twice in a two-week period with the equivalent kilometers in altitude twice in a two-week period with the equivalent of three people on board). The project was rewarded 10 million of three people on board). The project was rewarded 10 million dollars for their success.dollars for their success.

First privately funded human space flightFirst privately funded human space flight First privately funded reusable space craftFirst privately funded reusable space craft First privately funded aircraft to exceed Mach 2 and Mach 3First privately funded aircraft to exceed Mach 2 and Mach 3

The Future of Space TravelThe Future of Space Travel

After rigorous testing with the SpaceShipOne After rigorous testing with the SpaceShipOne project, the SpaceShipTwo craft is expected to project, the SpaceShipTwo craft is expected to be even safer then its predecessor. be even safer then its predecessor. SpaceShipTwo will be the first non-government SpaceShipTwo will be the first non-government space craft to take ordinary citizens into sub-space craft to take ordinary citizens into sub-orbit orbit

Price to become an AstronautPrice to become an Astronaut

To reserve your one, out of six, seat on the SpaceShipTwo during the To reserve your one, out of six, seat on the SpaceShipTwo during the first year of operations in 2009 will cost $200,000. However, the first year of operations in 2009 will cost $200,000. However, the first year and beyond has already been sold out. Never the less, first year and beyond has already been sold out. Never the less, you can still attempt to book a flight at Virgin Galactic’s main you can still attempt to book a flight at Virgin Galactic’s main website: website: www.virgingalactic.comwww.virgingalactic.com

$

How high will you be?How high will you be?Altitude (in feet)Altitude (in feet) Aircraft or Point of interestAircraft or Point of interest360,000360,000 SpaceShipTwoSpaceShipTwo

328,000328,000 SpaceShipOneSpaceShipOne

180,000180,000 Space EntrySpace Entry100,000100,000 Highest manned balloon flightHighest manned balloon flight50,00050,000 Commercial AirlinersCommercial Airliners

29,02929,029 Mt. EverestMt. Everest

SpaceportsSpaceportsThe original place that the flights will be departing The original place that the flights will be departing

from will be the Mojave Spaceport, located in from will be the Mojave Spaceport, located in Mojave California. However, Virgin Galactic will Mojave California. However, Virgin Galactic will establish their headquarters at “Spaceport establish their headquarters at “Spaceport America” located in New Mexico for all future America” located in New Mexico for all future flights.flights.

ReferencesReferencesTo research this topic I used the following sources:To research this topic I used the following sources:www.virgingalactic.comwww.virgingalactic.comhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Galactichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Galacticabyss.uoregon.edu/~js/space/lectures/lec21.htmlabyss.uoregon.edu/~js/space/lectures/lec21.html http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/oct2004/nf2http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/oct2004/nf20041015_2589_db039.htm0041015_2589_db039.htmhttp://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=4835http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/content/?cid=4835