Successful SpaceShipTwo Rocket Motor Testing

Virgin Galactic today announces the successful completion of the first phase of tests of the rocket motor that will propel space tourists, scientists and payloads into space.

In the desert of southern California, Virgin Galactic's key supplier Scaled Composites and its subcontractor SNC (Sierra Nevada Corporation) have successfully completed the first tests of the innovative rocket motor that will propel space tourists, scientists and payloads into space. The hybrid Nitrous Oxide system being used is the largest of its kind in the world and it will send Virgin's customers up into sub-orbital space at speeds over 2500 mph (4000kmh), to heights over 65 miles (110km) above the Earth’s surface, before the spaceship descends back down through the atmosphere using its pioneering feathered re-entry system.

Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Galactic said: “As Virgin Galactic gets ever closer to the start of commercial operations, we are reaching and passing many important and historic milestones. The Virgin MotherShip (VMS) Eve, the first of our amazing, all carbon composite, high altitude WhiteKnightTwo launch vehicles, is flying superbly. SpaceShipTwo, which will air launch from Eve, is largely constructed and awaiting the start of its own test flight programme later this year.”

The rocket motor burns for a very short period of time because the spaceship is launched from VMS Eve in the upper atmosphere, rather than from ground level. This means much less fuel is required, and the fuel burn is more environmentally benign than the solid rockets used in most ground based systems.

While the rocket motor is extremely powerful, it is also completely controllable. This system can - if necessary - be shut down at any time, allowing the spaceship to glide back down to land at a conventional runway. This is a significant feature in the overall safety of the Virgin system for human space flight.

Sir Richard continues: “Less fuel and clean fuel all add up to a space launch system which will be completely unprecedented in its low environmental impact compared with current space flight. The spaceship’s carbon footprint for each of its passengers and crew will be about a quarter of that for a return trip from London to New York, demonstrating again the extraordinary benefits that new technology can bring to the quest for clean transportation.” “We believe space is on the cusp of a new industrial revolution. Virgin Galactic’s mission has always been to transform the safety, cost and environmental impact of access to space. Not just for passengers, but also for a range of important scientific purposes, and to send small satellites into orbit. The world’s scientific community is united in recognising that making better use of space will be vital to mankind’s ability to manage the huge future challenges of life back here on Earth.”

The rocket motor will continue a series of exhaustive tests, and the spaceship itself will start flight testing later this year. The testing programme for the rocket, the spaceship and VMS Eve will be extensive.

Here You can see rocket motor test video!

Virgin Galactic blasts into Formula 1.

On the 26th April 2009, Virgin Galactic not only become the first spaveline ever to sponsor a Formula 1 Grand Prix car, but also became the first Spaceline to sponsor a Formula 1 winner. The spectacular double whammy was witnesed by Sir Richard Branson in the searing heat of the Bahrain 2009 Grand Prix as UK's Jenson Button notched up his 3rd win of the season in the Virgin Galactic branded Brawn GP car. Earllier, racing legend Nikki Lauda and Button's team mate Reubens barracheli had both announced that they had bought tickets to ride on Virgin Galactic spaceships.

We are all delighted that ormula 1 as well as Space, now appears to be "Virgin Territory".

It was particularly appropriate that the Galactic logo should be on the Brawn GP car as Ross brawn, the celebrated engineer owner of the team, is to Formula One and motorsport engineering what Burt Rutan is to aviation design and materials technology development in aerospace. They are both inspirational in their use of new and efficient materials technologies of the future which have the capacity to dramatically lower the environmental and energy footprints of both air and road transport.