The bearded-one, Richard Branson showed off his rocket-powered space plane for the first time at “Spaceport America” in New Mexico on Monday with a lavish ceremony. SS2 was unvelied attached under the WhiteKnightTwo mothership, which will carry it aloft to 50,000ft before the pair part company and a hybrid rocket engine blasts six SS2 passengers and two astronaut pilots on their sub-orbital joyride. SpaceShipTwo was unveiled after dark to the trance-tastic sound of a space-themed anthem from DJs Above & Beyond. Fittingly titled “Buzz” the track samples Buzz Aldrin’s original moon landing dialogue. The Governator Arnold Schwarzenegger was on hand to christen the SS2 the “Virgin Space Ship (VSS) Enterprise”.

Despite the $200,000 pricetag for a Virgin Galactic passenger seat, one may note that the rocketplanes won’t carry their customers into orbit: they are only capable of achieving a brief ballistic arc outside the atmosphere before inevitably falling back in. However, there are also drawing-board plans to use WhiteKnightTwos as launch platforms for rockets which could lob small satellites into actual orbit. Some will claim that the SS2 is really only a thrill ride for the (extremely) wealthy, and can never be anything more. But its also a good start to a fledgling industry, that will, incrementally improve performance until orbital spaceflight (immensely more difficult), becomes more common place. The WhiteKnightTwo is also being put forward as a launch platform for orbital rockets, for transport etc, so already the project is bearing fruit in other areas. It’s a good thing that the Beardy Branson has built this – it’s a start to an industry that should yield important benefits. Yes it’s an expensive toy only for the rich – but so was flying 60 years ago.

Tags: Above & Beyond, Beard, Space, Virgin

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