Whitesides: Virgin Galactic is “still trucking away”, getting close to powered flight of second SpaceShipTwo.
Whitesides: have a “very small number” of glide flights of SS2 left before starting powered flights.
Whitesides: done with engine testing of SS2’s hybrid rocket motor. It’s the most advanced hybrid rocket motor ever built.
Whitesides: building two more SpaceShipTwos right now; recently bonded the cabin for one of them.
Jeff Foust @jeff_foustWhitesides: we’ll start commercial service when done with test flight program. Whenever I release a date, the journalists…[voice trails off]6:33 pm · 7 Sep 2017
Virgin Galactic nearing powered SpaceShipTwo test flightsby Jeff Foust — September 8, 2017
Richard Branson tells sailors aiding disaster relief in BVI that he thinks he’ll go to space “by April next year."http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4914212/Sir-Richard-Branson-tours-HMS-Ocean-thank-sailors-hurricane-relief-effort.html”
What's next for @virgingalactic? Glide flight tests, powered flight to space & moving operations to New Mexico. #IAC2017
Richard DalBello (a late add to panel) gives quick overview of Virgin Galactic SS2; hopes ops move to Spaceport America next year. #IAC2017
George Whitesides is giving an invited talk for @virgingalactic at NSRC-2017.
Published on 29 Sep 2017The Virgin Galactic ground crew plays an essential role in our commercial spaceline operations. Meet our spaceship mechanics and watch them prepare our vehicles VSS Unity and VMS Eve for a flight -- right up until they pull chocks for taxi and take-off.
QuoteRichard Branson tells sailors aiding disaster relief in BVI that he thinks he’ll go to space “by April next year."http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4914212/Sir-Richard-Branson-tours-HMS-Ocean-thank-sailors-hurricane-relief-effort.html”https://twitter.com/jeff_foust/status/912066812061163520That 'not giving out dates' resolution contrinues to not hold up too well!
In lieu of an actual test flight, enjoy this fine promotional video of our awesome people building our awesome ship that will go to space some day. It's been eight weeks since the last glide test. Unusually long time if as they claimed things have been going well.Friday was the 13th anniversary of SpaceShipOne's first Ansari X Prize flight. The second occurred on Oct. 4. Branson announced Virgin Galactic a couple days before the first Ansari flight, so the program has now entered its 14th year.
Quote from: Andy Bandy on 09/30/2017 02:14 amIn lieu of an actual test flight, enjoy this fine promotional video of our awesome people building our awesome ship that will go to space some day. It's been eight weeks since the last glide test. Unusually long time if as they claimed things have been going well.Friday was the 13th anniversary of SpaceShipOne's first Ansari X Prize flight. The second occurred on Oct. 4. Branson announced Virgin Galactic a couple days before the first Ansari flight, so the program has now entered its 14th year.Guess you’re one of those glass half empty kind of people.
Speaking at the Nordic Business Forum in Helsinki, Finland last week, Mr Branson said: “We are hopefully about three months before we are in space, maybe six months before I'm in space.”
Richard Branson says he will be in space within six monthsQuote Speaking at the Nordic Business Forum in Helsinki, Finland last week, Mr Branson said: “We are hopefully about three months before we are in space, maybe six months before I'm in space.”http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/richard-branson-space-flight-exploration-mission-6-months-virgin-unity-a7992266.html
Former NASA shuttle commander/our pilot CJ Sturckow with @VP & Karen Pence during #Mojave visit @TheSpaceshipCo @GOPLeader
Ret Lieutenant Colonel/our pilot Kelly Latimer with @VP during #Mojave visit @TheSpaceshipCo @GOPLeader
.@VP @secondlady and @GOPLeader inspect cabin for new spaceship @virgingalactic #Mojave
#ISPCS2017 Virgin Galactic President Mike Moses updating flight test status and showing two more space ships in production
Why the 2+ gap in flights?
Many technical issues apparently
@virgingalactic has 700+ customers from 58 countries, president Mike Moses says. Powered flight testing begins late 2017. #ISPCS2017
Mike Moses confirms initial @virgingalactic #unity flights will not reach Karman line due to added safety mass, will reach it eventually