spaceflight

Meet The Most Accessible, Most Sustainable, And Safest Spacecraft On Or Above Our Planet

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Embarking on Celestial Journeys: Unveiling the Extravagance of Space Travel with Spaceship Neptune. In a groundbreaking revelation, Space Perspective, the vanguard of carbon-neutral spaceflight experiences, has unveiled the first images of its Spaceship Neptune capsule structure—a testament to the pinnacle of luxury space tourism. This visionary spacecraft, designed for tourism flights under the awe-inspiring SpaceBalloon, … Read more

First Space Lounge features Largest-ever Panoramic Windows to Be Flown to the Edge of Space – and There’s a Bar

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  The Space Lounge is a world away from the white, utilitarian environments you find in other spacecraft. Space Perspective Unveils World’s First Space Lounge. Hospitality & Entertainment Entrepreneur David Grutman Joins Space Perspective as Experience Curator. “The Space Lounge is a world away from the white, utilitarian environments you find in other spacecraft,” said … Read more

Virgin Galactic’s first fully crewed spaceflight to have founder Richard Branson onboard

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  For the first time, Virgin Galactic will share a global livestream of the spaceflight. Sir Richard Branson will be onboard Virgin Galactic’s first fully crewed spaceflight. Virgin Galactic Holdings, the vertically integrated aerospace and space travel company, announced “Unity 22” mission, the twenty-second flight test for VSS Unity and the Company’s fourth crewed spaceflight. … Read more

Space travel: Virgin Galactic’s new VSS Imagine will reflect whatever environment it is passing through

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@Virgin Galactic VSS Imagine spaceship

Virgin Galactic’s Mirror-Like Spaceship Brings Us One Step Closer to Space Travel.

Virgin Galactic’s new ‘VSS Imagine,’ scheduled to enter commercial service next year, will reflect whatever environment it is passing through. Breakthrough livery design allows Imagine to mirror the surrounding environment as it moves from Earth to Space.

Virgin Galactic unveiled the Company’s first Spaceship III in its growing fleet, VSS Imagine. VSS Imagine will commence ground testing, with glide flights planned for this summer from Spaceport America in New Mexico.

The breakthrough livery design, finished entirely with a mirror-like material, reflects the surrounding environment,
constantly changing color and appearance as it travels from earth to sky to space. Along with providing thermal
protection, this dynamic material is naturally appealing to the human eye, reflecting our inherent human fascination with space and the transformative experience of spaceflight.

Leveraging a modular design, the SpaceShip III class of vehicles are built to enable improved performance in terms of maintenance access and flight rate. This third generation of spaceship will lay the foundation for the design and
manufacture of future vehicles.

@Virgin Galactic VSS Imagine spaceship

As VSS Imagine begins ground testing, manufacturing will progress on VSS Inspire, the second SpaceShip III vehicle
within the Virgin Galactic fleet. The introduction of the Spaceship III class of vehicles is an important milestone in Virgin Galactic’s multi-year effort that targets flying 400 flights per year, per spaceport.

“Virgin Galactic spaceships are built specifically to deliver a new, transforming perspective to the thousands of people who will soon be able to experience the wonder of space for themselves. As a SpaceShip III class of vehicle, Imagine is not just beautiful to look at, but represents Virgin Galactic’s growing fleet of spaceships. All great achievements, creations and changes start with an idea. Our hope is for all those who travel to space to return with fresh perspectives and new ideas that will bring positive change to our planet.’’ – Richard Branson, Founder, Virgin.

Future Astronauts are invited to be part of every step along the Virgin Galactic journey. One of Virgin Galactic’s Future Astronauts, Dee Chester, had a unique opportunity to play her part in the rollout of VSS Imagine, as her Astronaut Edition Range Rover towed the new spaceship out of the hangar for the first time.

VSS Imagine is unveiled ahead of VSS Unity’s next test flight, which is planned for May 2021.

“VSS Imagine and Inspire are stunning ships that will take our future astronauts on an incredible voyage to space, and their names reflect the aspirational nature of human spaceflight.” – Michael Colglazier, CEO of Virgin Galactic.

Virgin Galactic’s Mirror-Like Spaceship Brings Us One Step Closer to Space Travel; @Virgin Galactic VSS Imagine spaceship
Virgin Galactic’s Mirror-Like Spaceship Brings Us One Step Closer to Space Travel; @Virgin Galactic VSS Imagine spaceship

Out-of-world weightless experience: Virgin Galactic Reveals SpaceshipTwo Cabin Interior

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See space and Earth in a weightless state.

Virgin Galactic Spaceship Cabin Mirror

Virgin Galactic, the vertically integrated aerospace and space travel company, revealed the cabin interior of its first SpaceShipTwo vehicle, VSS Unity in a virtual event streamed live on YouTube.

Aspiring astronauts and space enthusiasts around the world, now have the opportunity to explore the Virgin Galactic cabin design and spaceflight experience through an augmented reality enabled mobile app. The unveiling of the spaceship cabin design marks the latest milestone towards Virgin Galactic’s operational readiness and will accentuate the Company’s focus on using inspired and bold design to transform the entire customer journey.

The cabin designed by London design agency Seymourpowell is equipped with 12 individually sized seats, created using the highest-grade aluminium and carbon-fiber manufacturing techniques. The individually sized, reclining seats are conceived for G-force management and float zone volume.

@virgingalactic.com

The importance of astronaut comfort to optimize performance is accentuated by the use of engineered foam and technical fabrics. Virgin Galactic’s partner Under Armour developed the astronaut spacesuits and also the fabric technology featured in the cabin seats. Harnessing insights from more than two decades of maximizing human performance, Under Armour created a 3D knit featuring constructions that map breathability and function into the fabric encasing each cabin seat to provide comfort and mobility during spaceflight.

Each seat has been engineered to match the dynamism of the flight. A pilot-controlled recline mechanism, optimally positions astronauts to manage G- forces on boost and re-entry and frees up cabin space to maximize an unrestricted astronaut float zone when in zero gravity.

Virgin pioneered mood lighting on its commercial aircraft, and that idea has been translated by Virgin Galactic, into the new era of commercial spaceflight. Multi-color LEDs are concealed within the “Halo” window surrounds and are used to subtly reflect back and therefore elevate, the human responses to each of the contrasting stages of flight. At the pinnacle of the experience, as the Earth comes into view against the black sky of space, all lighting is extinguished, bringing an instant focus to the profoundly beautiful vista.

Virgin Galactic Seat Profile; @virgingalactic.com

To further elevate the experience of floating in zero-gravity, the cabin includes a first for space travel, a large, circular mirror on the aft bulkhead which, by adding a tint to the reflective surface, allows astronauts to view themselves weightless.

“Aspiring astronauts can bring their dream of spaceflight one step closer by joining the Virgin Galactic Spacefarer community today. For a $1,000 refundable deposit, they will be front of line for newly released spaceflight reservations,” said Virgin Galactic in the statement.

Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo Completed Second Flight from Spaceport America.

@virgingalactic.com
Virgin Galactic Spaceship Cabin In Payload Configuration; @virgingalactic.com
Virgin Galactic Spaceship Seats Detailing; @virgingalactic.com

Any Orbit. Any Time: Paul Allen invests in pioneering Stratolaunch Systems

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Stratolaunch Systems, A Paul G. Allen Project Entrepreneur, Microsoft Co-Founder and philanthropist Paul G. Allen and aerospace pioneer Burt Rutan have reunited to develop the next generation of space travel. Allen and Rutan, whose SpaceShipOne was the first privately-funded, manned rocket ship to fly beyond earth’s atmosphere, are developing a revolutionary approach to space transportation: … Read more