Virgin Galactic's spaceship family all together for first time (photos)
In ceremony to open assembly plant for Spaceship Company--the partnership between Scaled Composites and Virgin Galactic--SpaceShipOne and SpaceShipTwo, and WhiteKnightOne and WhiteKnightTwo were on show.
SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnightTwo
MOJAVE, Calif.--On Monday, The Spaceship Company, which is the partnership between Virgin Galactic and Scaled Composites, opened the doors to its new assembly facility. There, the company will produce new models of SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnightTwo, which will be used to take tourists willing to pay $250,000 into space.
To celebrate the opening, The Spaceship Company hosted an event where, for the first time ever, WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo appeared alongside the original WhiteKnight and a replica of SpaceShipOne.
Here, SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnightTwo are seen in the middle of the giant assembly hangar.
Here comes WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo
As the hangar doors opened, the audience of about 250 invited guests, politicians, media, and employees watched SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnightTwo appear outside.
Doors open
With the doors wide open, the audience had a great view of WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo arriving.
Taxiing in
Here we see WhiteKnightTwo, carrying SpaceShipTwo, taxiing into the assembly building.
Arrival
The crowd of about 250 cheered as WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo made their way fully into The Spaceship Company's brand-new assembly building.
Aircraft progression logo
One of the Virgin Galactic logos, seen here on a WhiteKnightTwo engine, is this representation of the progression of aircraft through the ages.
Experimental
Barely noticeable on the bottom of SpaceShipTwo is the word "experimental," signifying that the spaceship is still in the testing phase. It is not known when Virgin Galactic will begin taking tourists into space, but it said Monday that it has booked $60 million worth of business for the future flights.
Hangar view
In this wide view of the new assembly building, the WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo combination is seen alongside the original WhiteKnight.
SpaceShipOne and WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo
In this photo, taken from above, it is possible to see both the new SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnightTwo combination alongside a replica of the original SpaceShipOne. Virgin Galactic said Monday's event was the first time all of Virgin Galactic's vehicles had appeared together in public.
SpaceShipOne
This is a replica of SpaceShipOne, the vehicle that won the X-Prize in 2004. The original spaceship is currently on display at the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.
SpaceShipOne front
This is the front of the replica of SpaceShipOne.
SpaceShipTwo
Here we see SpaceShipTwo. The Spaceship Company said it plans to build at least two more SpaceShipTwos.
SpaceShipTwo from side
This is a view of SpaceShipTwo, taken from the side.
The Spaceship Company sign
Hanging on the wall of the assembly facility is this clever sign for The Spaceship Company.
The Spaceship Company
This is the logo for The Spaceship Company, seen stenciled on the glass outside its headquarters in Mojave, Calif.
Virgin Galactic truck
This is a Virgin Galactic aircraft tug.
VMSEVE
Painted on the side of WhiteKnightTwo is this Virgin Galactic logo.
WhiteKnight from above
This is the original WhiteKnight, which carried SpaceShipOne into the sky--and then dropped it--seen from above.
WhiteKnight and SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnightTwo from above
For the first time ever, Virgin Galactic showed off all its aircraft at the same time.
WhiteKnight from the front
This is the nose of the original WhiteKnight.
WhiteKnight logo
This is the WhiteKnight logo, seen on the original WhiteKnight.
Side of WhiteKnight
Here we see WhiteKnight from the side.
Tail
This is the tail of WhiteKnight.
WhiteKnight
This is the original WhiteKnight.
WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo from behind
In this photograph WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo are seen from behind.
Mojave Air and Space port
Today there are 14 companies in the commercial space industry doing business at the Mojave Air and Space port in Mojave, Calif.
Scaled Composites
Scaled Composites, which made SpaceShipOne and SpaceShipTwo, as well as WhiteKnight and WhiteKnightTwo, is located at the Mojave Air and Space port.
Rotary Rocket
Rotary Rocket is one of 14 companies doing commercial space industry work at the Mojave Air and Space port.
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