Virgin Galactic
Virgin Galactic is a British-American spaceflight company founded by Sir Richard Branson in 2004. The company is part of the Virgin Group and aims to provide suborbital spaceflights to space tourists. Virgin Galactic's headquarters are located in California, and its operational base is at Spaceport America in New Mexico.
History
Virgin Galactic was officially launched on September 27, 2004, following the successful flight of SpaceShipOne on June 21, 2004. SpaceShipOne, designed by Scaled Composites and funded by Paul Allen, became the first private spacecraft to reach suborbital space. This achievement won the Ansari X Prize, a $10 million award for the first non-government organization to launch a reusable manned spacecraft into space twice within two weeks.
Founders and Key Figures
The company was founded by Sir Richard Branson, a British entrepreneur known for his ventures in the Virgin Group, which includes Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Records. Other key figures include Burt Rutan, the aerospace engineer behind SpaceShipOne, and George Whitesides, the former CEO of Virgin Galactic.
Technology
Virgin Galactic's spaceflight system consists of two main components: the carrier aircraft WhiteKnightTwo and the spacecraft SpaceShipTwo. WhiteKnightTwo is a twin-fuselage aircraft that carries SpaceShipTwo to an altitude of about 50,000 feet, where SpaceShipTwo is then released to ignite its rocket motor and ascend to suborbital space.
SpaceShipTwo
SpaceShipTwo, also known as VSS Unity, is designed to carry six passengers and two pilots. It features a unique feathering system that allows the spacecraft to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere safely by rotating its tail booms to increase drag and stability.
WhiteKnightTwo
WhiteKnightTwo, named VMS Eve after Branson's mother, is a custom-built, all-composite aircraft designed to carry SpaceShipTwo to its launch altitude. It also serves as a platform for scientific research and other payloads.
Spaceflights
Virgin Galactic's maiden spaceflight occurred in 2018 with VSS Unity. The company has since conducted several test flights, including a fully crewed flight on July 11, 2021, which carried Richard Branson and marked a significant milestone in commercial space tourism.
Galactic 01
In June 2023, Virgin Galactic launched its first commercial space tourism flight, Galactic 01. This flight marked the beginning of regular commercial operations, with tickets priced at $450,000 per seat.
Challenges and Setbacks
Virgin Galactic has faced several challenges and setbacks, including the tragic crash of VSS Enterprise on October 31, 2014, which resulted in the death of co-pilot Michael Alsbury and serious injuries to pilot Peter Siebold. The crash was attributed to a premature deployment of the feathering system.
Future Plans
Virgin Galactic aims to increase the frequency of its spaceflights and develop new spacecraft, such as the Delta class vehicles, to enhance its capabilities. The company also plans to expand its operations to include point-to-point travel and scientific research missions.