Virgin Galactic unveils new spaceport, Mission Control for space tourism projects
5 years, 5 months ago

Virgin Galactic unveils new spaceport, Mission Control for space tourism projects

Firstpost  

Despite signing up more than 600 space tourists in 60 countries, the project has been delayed. Space tourism moved a step closer to reality Thursday as Virgin Galactic unveiled its new Mission Control at a spaceport in New Mexico and the schedule for final test flights before taking paying customers into the final frontier. Spaceport America, a taxpayer-funded facility in New Mexico’s remote Jornada del Muerto desert, received its license to operate in 2008 and was officially “opened” by flamboyant British billionaire Richard Branson three years later. We’ve got more to go, but we’re on the home stretch now.” Virgin invited guests to see two floors “primarily focused on spaceflight operations, which also incorporates communal spaces designed for use in the future by Virgin Galactic customers, along with their friends and families,” it said in a statement. “In the coming days, the team will use VMS Eve to fly simulated spaceship launch missions, with pilots and Mission Control ensuring that all in-flight communications and airspace coordination work as planned,” he said.

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History of this topic

Space Tourism: Virgin Galactic's third commercial flight takes tourists to the edge of space and back
1 year, 4 months ago

Space Tourism: Virgin Galactic's third commercial flight takes tourists to the edge of space and back

Hindustan Times  

Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc. said it launched its third commercial flight Friday morning, sending another crew of paying tourists to the edge of space and back. Space Tourism: Virgin Galactic's third commercial flight takes tourists to the edge of space and back The flight, called Galactic 03, marks the latest milestone for the venture, founded by billionaire Richard Branson, as …

All aboard! Virgin Galactic flies its first tourists to the edge of space
1 year, 5 months ago

All aboard! Virgin Galactic flies its first tourists to the edge of space

LA Times  

Space tourists, from left, Anastatia Mayers, Jon Goodwin and Keisha Schahaff prepare to board their Virgin Galactic flight at Spaceport America, near Truth or Consequences, N.M. Virgin Galactic rocketed to the edge of space with its first tourists Thursday, including a former British Olympian who bought his ticket 18 years ago and a mother-daughter duo from the Caribbean. Richard Branson’s …

‘Someone is seriously…’: Netizens slam Virgin Galactic's ‘space flight’ which happened after Titan submersible mishap
1 year, 6 months ago

‘Someone is seriously…’: Netizens slam Virgin Galactic's ‘space flight’ which happened after Titan submersible mishap

Hindustan Times  

Space trips and deep sea explorations are two very risky adventures which put human lives at stake. Less than a week after the Titan incident, Branson's Virgin Galactic has flown paying customers to space on Thursday. Virgin Galactic's ‘space flight’, Titan submersible Though the passengers successfully undertook the trip and landed safely, Branson and his company drew the ire of …

Virgin Galactic sends first paying customers to space: Who all flew, What next
1 year, 6 months ago

Virgin Galactic sends first paying customers to space: Who all flew, What next

Hindustan Times  

In a long-awaited commercial debut, Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc. on Thursday sent paying customers to the edge of space for the first time, a milestone in the emerging private spaceflight sector. The VSS Unity craft reached space at about 9:30am local time in New Mexico, carrying six people on board, including researchers from the Italian Air Force and the National …

Virgin Galactic successful in first commercial space flight
1 year, 6 months ago

Virgin Galactic successful in first commercial space flight

Hindustan Times  

Virgin Galactic successfully flew its first paying customers to the final frontier Thursday, a long-awaited achievement that puts it back on track in the emerging private spaceflight sector. The flight came almost two years after Virgin Galactic's founder Richard Branson flew to space in a test flight meant to usher in a new era of lucrative space tourism. But the …

Virgin Galactic’s first commercial space flight safely lands
1 year, 6 months ago

Virgin Galactic’s first commercial space flight safely lands

Al Jazeera  

Passengers and crew on VSS Unity rocket plane go for 75-minute suborbital ride to edge of space in landmark flight. Virgin Galactic, the company founded by United Kingdom entrepreneur Richard Branson in 2004, has successfully completed its first commercial flight to the edge of space. Two Italian air force officers and an aerospace engineer from the National Research Council of …

Virgin Galactic sets dates for first space tourism flights
1 year, 7 months ago

Virgin Galactic sets dates for first space tourism flights

The Independent  

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Virgin Galactic will launch its first commercial space tourism flights before the end of June, Sir …

Virgin Galactic completes final test flight before launching paying customers to space
1 year, 7 months ago

Virgin Galactic completes final test flight before launching paying customers to space

Associated Press  

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M — Virgin Galactic completed what is expected to be its final test flight Thursday before taking paying customers on brief trips to space, marking what the space tourism company described as a “fantastic achievement” in what has been a long road to commercial operations. The flight came nearly two years after founder Richard Branson beat fellow billionaire and …

Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic successfully sends four people to space
1 year, 7 months ago

Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic successfully sends four people to space

Daily Mail  

Billionaire Richard Branson is back in the space race. Federal aviation authorities banned Virgin Galactic launches after Branson's maiden flight in 2021 led to an investigation when it veered off course during its descent back to the runway in the New Mexico desert. The VSS Unity spaceplane hung 54.2 miles above Earth's surface for three minutes, allowing the space tourists …

Virgin Galactic sees delay to space mission with Italian Air Force
3 years, 4 months ago

Virgin Galactic sees delay to space mission with Italian Air Force

The Hindu  

Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc on Friday flagged a delay to its first commercial research mission with the Italian Air Force to mid-October due to a potential manufacturing defect. Virgin Galactic said on Friday a third-party supplier warned of a potential manufacturing defect in a component of the flight control system during test flight preparations. The mission was initially set for …

FAA bans Virgin Galactic launches while probing Branson trip
3 years, 4 months ago

FAA bans Virgin Galactic launches while probing Branson trip

Associated Press  

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday that Virgin Galactic cannot launch anyone into space again until an investigation is complete into a mishap that occurred during July’s flight with founder Richard Branson. The FAA said the rocketship carrying Branson and five Virgin Galactic employees veered off course during its descent back to its runway in the …

Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson Blasts Off, Reaches Edge Of Space
3 years, 6 months ago

Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson Blasts Off, Reaches Edge Of Space

Huff Post  

The crowd cheered and yelled as it touched down on the runway. License to thrill.” One of Branson’s chief rivals in the space-tourism race among the world’s richest men, SpaceX’s Elon Musk, arrived in New Mexico to witness the flight, wishing Branson via Twitter, “Godspeed!” Bezos likewise sent his wishes for a safe and successful flight, though he also took …

Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson ready for space launch
3 years, 6 months ago

Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson ready for space launch

Live Mint  

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - British billionaire Richard Branson was due on Sunday to climb into his Virgin Galactic passenger rocket plane and soar more than 50 miles above the New Mexico desert in the vehicle's first fully crewed test flight to the edge of space. This image provided by Virgin Galactic shows, from left, Chief Pilot Dave Mackay, Lead Operations …

Virgin Galactic gets FAA approval for commercial passenger space flights
3 years, 6 months ago

Virgin Galactic gets FAA approval for commercial passenger space flights

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “The commercial license that we have had in place since 2016 remains in place, but is now …

Virgin Galactic gets FAA’s OK to launch customers to space
3 years, 6 months ago

Virgin Galactic gets FAA’s OK to launch customers to space

Associated Press  

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Virgin Galactic finally has the federal government’s approval to start launching customers into space from New Mexico. Unlike Blue Origin’s and SpaceX’s fully automated capsules launched from the ground by reusable rockets, Virgin Galactic uses a winged spacecraft that launches from the belly of an airplane and requires a pair of pilots. A review of the …

Virgin Galactic gets FAA's approval to launch customers to space
3 years, 6 months ago

Virgin Galactic gets FAA's approval to launch customers to space

India Today  

Virgin Galactic finally has the federal government’s approval to start launching customers into space from New Mexico. “But we don’t have any announcements about Virgin Galactic’s future flight plans at this time.” Watch | Virgin Galactic completes first flight in over two years Unlike Blue Origin’s and SpaceX’s capsules launched from the ground by reusable rockets, Virgin Galactic uses a …

Virgin Galactic cleared by FAA to fly customers into space
3 years, 6 months ago

Virgin Galactic cleared by FAA to fly customers into space

LA Times  

The VSS Unity craft flies during a supersonic flight test. Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc. received regulatory approval to fly customers into space, moving the budding industry founded by billionaires one step closer to reality. The Federal Aviation Administration upgraded the company’s existing license to cover customer flights, Virgin Galactic said Friday in a statement, saying the approval was the first …

Virgin Galactic reaches edge of Earth's atmosphere for the first time with two pilots
3 years, 7 months ago

Virgin Galactic reaches edge of Earth's atmosphere for the first time with two pilots

Firstpost  

Virgin Galactic on Saturday made its first rocket-powered flight from New Mexico to the fringe of space in a manned shuttle, as the company forges toward offering tourist flights to the edge of the Earth’s atmosphere. British billionaire and Virgin Galactic founder Sir Richard Branson said the flight and landing bring the roughly 15-year-old venture tantalizingly close to commercial flights …

Virgin Galactic rocket ship VSS Unity makes its first spaceflight in two years
3 years, 7 months ago

Virgin Galactic rocket ship VSS Unity makes its first spaceflight in two years

Daily Mail  

Richard Branson shared his delight after his space tourism firm Virgin Galactic made reached orbit for the first time since moving to its New Mexico Spaceport. Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity SpaceShipTwo spacecraft successfully made its first rocket-powered spaceflight in two years after lifting off from New Mexico's Spaceport America. The spaceflight, the first in two years, brings Virgin Galactic closer …

Virgin Galactic manned shuttle ascends from New Mexico to the edge of space
3 years, 7 months ago

Virgin Galactic manned shuttle ascends from New Mexico to the edge of space

LA Times  

Virgin Galactic completed its third spaceflight and it first from Spaceport America, N.M., on Saturday. This image shows the release of VSS Unity from VMS Eve and ignition of the rocket motor over Spaceport America, N.M. Virgin Galactic on Saturday made its first rocket-powered flight from New Mexico to the fringe of space in a manned shuttle, as the company …

Virgin Galactic shares jump after announcing it will test the SpaceShipTwo Unity on Saturday
3 years, 7 months ago

Virgin Galactic shares jump after announcing it will test the SpaceShipTwo Unity on Saturday

Daily Mail  

Shares of the Richard Branson-founded Virgin Galactic soared by nearly 25 percent in early Thursday trading after the space tourism company assuaged fears of a delay and confirmed that it would complete its next test flight on Saturday. Scroll down for video Shares of Virgin Galactic have whipsawed in recent trading as the broader market comes under pressure and concerns …

Virgin Galactic conducts first manned spaceline test. Here is everything you need to know
4 years, 1 month ago

Virgin Galactic conducts first manned spaceline test. Here is everything you need to know

Hindustan Times  

Virgin Galactic, a part of the UK billionaire Richard Branson’s Virgin group of companies, have launched the first manned test of its ambitious Spaceline program from New Mexico in the United States, the company said on Saturday. Here’s everything you need to know about the spaceline: Vehicles SpaceShipTwo spaceflight system is the company’s reusable system that comprises a carrier aircraft …

Virgin Galactic unexpectedly aborts test flight of its space tourism plane
4 years, 1 month ago

Virgin Galactic unexpectedly aborts test flight of its space tourism plane

CNN  

Austin, Texas CNN Business — Virgin Galactic’s supersonic rocket plane was scheduled to fire into the upper atmosphere Saturday, but after climbing more than 40,000 feet over New Mexico attached to its mothership, the space plane made an unexpected turn toward home rather than shooting skyward. We will check the vehicle and be back to flight soon.” A follow-up statement …

Virgin Galactic to launch spaceplane VSS Unity as early as next week
4 years, 1 month ago

Virgin Galactic to launch spaceplane VSS Unity as early as next week

Daily Mail  

Virgin Galactic is set to launch its VSS Unity space plane as early as next week - this will be the first flight since coronavirus restrictions were introduced in New Mexico. The flight will launch on or after December 11 from Spaceport America, New Mexico and will include two pilots and an experimental payload for NASA This flight expects to …

Virgin Galactic delays key test flight after pandemic causes shutdowns
4 years, 2 months ago

Virgin Galactic delays key test flight after pandemic causes shutdowns

CNN  

New York CNN Business — Virgin Galactic said Monday that it no longer plans to conduct a key test flight of its spacecraft this week because of a surge in new Covid-19 cases and resulting related restrictions in New Mexico, home to the company’s glitzy spaceport. Virgin Galactic, which had been operating as an “essential business” at its manufacturing and …

Virgin Galactic plans 1st New Mexico space launch this month
4 years, 2 months ago

Virgin Galactic plans 1st New Mexico space launch this month

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Virgin Galactic said Thursday that …

Virgin Galactic posts another loss as it inches toward space tourism flights
4 years, 8 months ago

Virgin Galactic posts another loss as it inches toward space tourism flights

CNN  

New York CNN Business — Virgin Galactic, the space tourism company slated to begin flying customers in the near future, posted a net loss of $60 million for the first three months of 2020. And though Virgin Galactic is only a small slice of that industry, it is the only so-called “new space” company that’s publicly traded. Morgan Stanley said …

Virgin Galactic announces it's moving operations to New Mexico
5 years, 8 months ago

Virgin Galactic announces it's moving operations to New Mexico

Daily Mail  

British billionaire Richard Branson and his space-tourism company Virgin Galactic announced new steps Friday toward offering thrill rides into the low reaches of space for paying passengers, with the company immediately starting to move personnel and space vehicles from California to a launch and landing facility in the New Mexico desert. Virgin Galactic announced it's immediately starting to move personnel …

Virgin Galactic hopes to launch tourist flights to space by end of 2019
5 years, 10 months ago

Virgin Galactic hopes to launch tourist flights to space by end of 2019

ABC  

Growing up in Perth, Enrico Palermo was always looking to the stars. Key points: Richard Branson's space tourism company, Virgin Galactic, has completed another successful test flight Mr Branson hopes the flights will transport tourists to the edge of space by the end of this year Despite criticism, Mr Branson believes space travel will inspire new perspectives on the planet …

As Virgin Galactic notches another test flight, its next space planes take shape
5 years, 10 months ago

As Virgin Galactic notches another test flight, its next space planes take shape

LA Times  

Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo space plane reached suborbital space Friday for the second time, then landed back on the runway at the Mojave Air and Space Port about an hour after liftoff. The craft was carried by the larger, twin-fuselage plane known as WhiteKnightTwo to an altitude of about 45,000 feet, then released in midair to blast off on its own …

Meet the pilots of Virgin Galactic’s first flight to space
6 years, 1 month ago

Meet the pilots of Virgin Galactic’s first flight to space

CNN  

After months of testing Richard Branson’s rocket-powered plane at lower altitudes, two of Virgin Galactic’s test pilots made it to the edge of space on Thursday — 51.4 miles above Earth. The morning before flight, Stucky and Sturckow met at Virgin Galactic’s Mojave hangar at 4:30 am to run through flight simulations meant to mimic any possible curve ball the …

'An Indescribable Feeling': Virgin Galactic Makes Historic Trip To Edge Of Space
6 years, 1 month ago

'An Indescribable Feeling': Virgin Galactic Makes Historic Trip To Edge Of Space

NPR  

'An Indescribable Feeling': Virgin Galactic Makes Historic Trip To Edge Of Space Enlarge this image toggle caption Gene Blevins/AFP/Getty Images Gene Blevins/AFP/Getty Images Virgin Galactic says it has reached a rather lofty milestone. toggle caption Gene Blevins/AFP/Getty Images The space tourism company's feat marks the first successful manned space flight launched on U.S. soil since NASA retired its space shuttle …

Virgin Galactic aims to reach space soon with tourism rocket
6 years, 1 month ago

Virgin Galactic aims to reach space soon with tourism rocket

India TV News  

MOJAVE, Calif. — Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic is gearing up to finally send its tourism rocket ship to the edge of space. The next test flight could come as early as Thursday with two pilots taking Virgin Space Ship Unity high above California's Mojave Desert. Virgin Galactic's development of its spaceship took far longer than expected and endured a setback …

Virgin Galactic bounces back from tragedy with big plans for the future
6 years, 1 month ago

Virgin Galactic bounces back from tragedy with big plans for the future

CNN  

Inside Access, only on CNN Business, goes behind the scenes of the world’s most innovative companies. “I’ve been so proud of the team, how they’ve responded to and really moved forward with a sense of urgency,” Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides told CNN Business’ Rachel Crane. But Virgin Galactic executives told CNN Business they one day could work with Virgin …

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