Virgin Galactic and Virgin Orbit are two separate companies, sharing nothing more than a half a brand name. Different staff, different facilities, different products.
Quote from: edzieba on 08/03/2022 10:29 amVirgin Galactic and Virgin Orbit are two separate companies, sharing nothing more than a half a brand name. Different staff, different facilities, different products.I know that but is possible that Virgin Galactic uses these engines...the major problem with spaceships before is the hybrid engines.I wait for the answer from the company.
Quote from: Tywin on 08/03/2022 11:01 amQuote from: edzieba on 08/03/2022 10:29 amVirgin Galactic and Virgin Orbit are two separate companies, sharing nothing more than a half a brand name. Different staff, different facilities, different products.I know that but is possible that Virgin Galactic uses these engines...the major problem with spaceships before is the hybrid engines.I wait for the answer from the company.The hybrid-fuel rocket engine was chosen for SpaceShipOne and later SpaceShipTwo and SpaceShipTwo in order to tackle the disadvantages of liquid- and solid-fuel rockets, namely the dangers of propellant handling and mechanical complexity.
Combines the difficulties of solids with the difficulties of liquids and the advantages of neither.
Virgin Galactic is proud to introduce our new primary suppliers: @Bellflight & Qarbon Aerospace, who will manufacture the major subassemblies for our Delta class spaceships.
02 November 2022Virgin Galactic Announces Primary Suppliers for Delta Class SpaceshipsBell Textron Inc. and Qarbon Aerospace to manufacture major subassemblies for the next generation spaceshipsDesign work to begin immediately with vehicle production targeted to commence in 2023TUSTIN, Calif.- November 2, 2022 - Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPCE) (the “Company” or “Virgin Galactic”), an aerospace and space travel company, today announced that it has reached agreement with Bell Textron Inc. (Bell) and Qarbon Aerospace to manufacture key subassemblies for the Company’s new Delta class spaceships. The production-model vehicle is designed to fly weekly with six passengers per ship. Production is slated to begin in 2023.Bell, a subsidiary of Textron Inc. with more than 85 years of manufacturing experience in the aviation industry, will supply the unique feathering system and flight control surfaces. Qarbon Aerospace, known for its expertise in constructing large, complex composite parts for aerospace and aviation, will produce the fuselage and wing. The companies were selected following a competitive RFP process based on their ability to meet Virgin Galactic’s unique design and fabrication requirements.Virgin Galactic will continue to be responsible for the overall system architecture, design authority for all components, and the final assembly, integration, checkout, and acceptance testing of the vehicles.“The Delta class spaceships are an evolution of our distinctive flight system, designed for improved manufacturability, maintenance and flight rate capability,” said Virgin Galactic CEO Michael Colglazier. “Bell and Qarbon Aerospace are established partners who bring know-how, ideas and resources that will enable us to produce up to six new Delta Class ships per year. Together with Aurora Flight Sciences, who is producing our next gen motherships, we now have the primary suppliers in place to propel the production of our spaceline fleet at scale.”Bell Vice President of Prototyping and Testing, Glenn Isbell said, “We are honored Virgin Galactic has chosen Bell to support flight control technology and aircraft manufacturing for its Delta Class Spaceship Program. Bell’s 85-year legacy consists of revolutionary advancements in vertical lift and space technology, and we’re thrilled to make this exciting return to space vehicle development to help bring Virgin Galactic’s vision to life.”Qarbon Aerospace CEO, Pete Wick said, “We are truly honored that Virgin Galactic has selected Qarbon Aerospace to play such a critical role on this cutting-edge technology platform taking passenger spaceflight to the next level. This is the beginning of what I know is going to be a long and extremely successful partnership.”As previously announced, the spaceships will be assembled at Virgin Galactic’s new facility in Arizona. The first Delta class spaceships are expected to commence revenue-generating payload flights in late 2025, progressing to private astronaut flights in 2026.“After a highly competitive and methodical selection process, we are thrilled to be partnering with Bell and Qarbon Aerospace,” added Swami Iyer, Virgin Galactic President, Aerospace Systems. The Delta spaceship manufacturing process will benefit from our investment in digital twin technology, which enables seamless integration, real-time collaboration, strong governance, and increased production efficiency and reliability.”About Virgin Galactic HoldingsVirgin Galactic is an aerospace and space travel company, pioneering human spaceflight for private individuals and researchers with its advanced air and space vehicles. It is developing a spaceflight system designed to connect the world to the wonder and awe created by space travel and to offer customers a transformative experience. You can find more information at https://www.virgingalactic.com/About Qarbon Aerospace Qarbon Aerospace, headquartered in Red Oak, Texas,is a leading provider of large, complex composite and metallic structural components and assemblies such as fuselages, wings, flight control surfaces, and engine nacelles and components. Qarbon Aerospace operates nearly two million square feet of factory space across three facilities located in Red Oak, Texas, Milledgeville, Georgia, and Rayong, Thailand. Qarbon Aerospace has vertically integrated manufacturing capabilities from component fabrication through large-scale assembly as well as world-leading proprietary thermoplastics technologies. Qarbon Aerospace has longstanding relationships with blue-chip OEM customers and a diversified product portfolio across a variety of successful commercial, defense, and business jet platforms. Qarbon Aerospace has the capabilities and resources to solve the market’s toughest challenges with Quality Assured. You can find more information at www.QarbonAerospace.com.About BellThinking above and beyond is what we do. For more than 85 years, we’ve been reimagining the experience of flight – and where it can take us. We are pioneers. We were the first to break the sound barrier and to certify a commercial helicopter. We were a part of NASA’s first lunar mission and brought advanced tiltrotor systems to market. Today, we’re defining the future of advanced air mobility. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas – as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., – we have strategic locations around the globe. And with nearly one quarter of our workforce having served, helping our military achieve their missions is a passion of ours. Above all, our breakthrough innovations deliver exceptional experiences to our customers. Efficiently. Reliably. And always, with safety at the forefront.About TextronTextron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, and Textron Systems. For more information, visit: www.textron.com.
Business Highlights and Recent Updates:On November 2, 2022, we announced Bell Textron and Qarbon Aerospace as primary suppliers to build Delta Class spaceships. The first Delta Class spaceship is expected to be completed in 2025.On track to launch commercial service in Q2 2023.
From today’s financial results:https://investors.virgingalactic.com/news/news-details/2022/Virgin-Galactic-Announces-Third-Quarter-2022-Financial-Results-And-Provides-Business-Update/default.aspxQuoteBusiness Highlights and Recent Updates:On November 2, 2022, we announced Bell Textron and Qarbon Aerospace as primary suppliers to build Delta Class spaceships. The first Delta Class spaceship is expected to be completed in 2025.On track to launch commercial service in Q2 2023.
“The Delta class will be the driver of revenue growth and profitability for the company,” said Doug Ahrens, chief financial officer, on the call. “We expect very attractive margins from the operation of our six-seat Delta class vehicles.”With a ticket price of at least $450,000 per customer, Virgin Galactic expects to generate a minimum of $2.7 million in revenue per flight. The operating costs per flight are about $400,000, which include the costs of flying both the spaceplane and its mothership as well as training and hospitality costs for its astronauts. The company projects the amortized cost of each Delta-class spaceplane at $100,000 to $120,000 per flight, based on a production cost of $50 million to $60 million and estimated lifetime of 500 flights.If those numbers hold, Ahrens said that would result in healthy profit margins. With a flight rate of once per week, each Delta-class vehicle would pay for itself in about six months, he projected.
According to Space News ( https://spacenews.com/virgin-buys-out-scaleds-share-spaceship-co/ ) VG bought Scaled's interest in TSC back in late 2013. What that means in terms of who is really doing the work I don't know, but taken at face value, Scaled has nothing to do with building SS2 any more.
Quote from: ccdengr on 11/02/2022 09:51 pmAccording to Space News ( https://spacenews.com/virgin-buys-out-scaleds-share-spaceship-co/ ) VG bought Scaled's interest in TSC back in late 2013. What that means in terms of who is really doing the work I don't know, but taken at face value, Scaled has nothing to do with building SS2 any more. Before Elon there was Burt. I always thought people, including Richard, vastly underestimated his importance to the company.
Quote from: Nomadd on 05/10/2023 03:38 amQuote from: ccdengr on 11/02/2022 09:51 pmAccording to Space News ( https://spacenews.com/virgin-buys-out-scaleds-share-spaceship-co/ ) VG bought Scaled's interest in TSC back in late 2013. What that means in terms of who is really doing the work I don't know, but taken at face value, Scaled has nothing to do with building SS2 any more. Before Elon there was Burt. I always thought people, including Richard, vastly underestimated his importance to the company.Burt always seemed to come up with a solution, however unusual, to each problem as it popped up. Though I don't know what he would have done to fix the issues with hybrid rocket engines. They are just not a good idea.
Quote from: Eric Hedman on 05/10/2023 04:46 amQuote from: Nomadd on 05/10/2023 03:38 amQuote from: ccdengr on 11/02/2022 09:51 pmAccording to Space News ( https://spacenews.com/virgin-buys-out-scaleds-share-spaceship-co/ ) VG bought Scaled's interest in TSC back in late 2013. What that means in terms of who is really doing the work I don't know, but taken at face value, Scaled has nothing to do with building SS2 any more. Before Elon there was Burt. I always thought people, including Richard, vastly underestimated his importance to the company.Burt always seemed to come up with a solution, however unusual, to each problem as it popped up. Though I don't know what he would have done to fix the issues with hybrid rocket engines. They are just not a good idea.The problem was that Burt Rutan (and the rest of the Mojave circle) were captivated by airplanes. It had to have wings, use a runway, have a crew that could walk slowly towards the vehicle at dawn with helmets hung under-hand... That captivation was their downfall. Burt Rutan (and other super-talented people there like Jeff Greason for example) could solve almost any problem, but they were fighting problems that never should have existed.
Ars: When do you plan to begin manufacturing the Delta ships?Mike Moses: The tooling is being built now. Parts will start coming out by the end of this year, sub-component parts at the vendors. Major assemblies are being delivered, I think, at the middle to end of 2024, and then final assembly in 2025. Were showing first-flight capability at the end of 2025 and then moving into flight test and then into commercial service in 2026.
QuoteArs: When do you plan to begin manufacturing the Delta ships?Mike Moses: The tooling is being built now. Parts will start coming out by the end of this year, sub-component parts at the vendors. Major assemblies are being delivered, I think, at the middle to end of 2024, and then final assembly in 2025. Were showing first-flight capability at the end of 2025 and then moving into flight test and then into commercial service in 2026.https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/08/virgin-galactics-president-explains-how-vss-unity-is-now-flying-frequently/
Virgin Galactic Presents Delta Diaries27 Feb 2024Introducing Delta Diaries: Entries that take you behind the scenes of Virgin Galactic's next-generation Delta spaceship fleet program. In this inaugural entry, Dave Crawford, Vice President, Engineering, talks fleet advancements from within our spaceship innovation lab in Southern California.
Our Delta Spaceship Simulator has landed! More than just a tool for pilot training and evaluation, the Delta SIM plays a pivotal role in ground-testing novel systems for the spaceship. From evaluating cockpit layouts to testing flight controls, this simulator serves as a core component as we advance the development of the Delta spaceship. #DeltaDiaries
Check out a bird’s eye view of our spaceship factory in Phoenix, AZ! This is where our Delta Spaceship Fleet will be assembled. It's also where final ground checkouts will be performed before flight testing. #DeltaDiaries
https://twitter.com/virgingalactic/status/1763645420704846295QuoteCheck out a bird’s eye view of our spaceship factory in Phoenix, AZ! This is where our Delta Spaceship Fleet will be assembled. It's also where final ground checkouts will be performed before flight testing. #DeltaDiaries
Progress: Our Virgin Galactic Delta class spaceship facility is coming to life. With the main building exceeding two football fields in length, this new facility is where the fleet of Delta spaceships will be built, tested, and flown on their maiden voyage to New Mexico! #DeltaDiaries
Spaceship manufacturing facility now complete! ✅Virgin Galactic has launched a new spaceship factory in Phoenix, Arizona. Final assembly of our Delta spaceships will start in Q1 2025 as planned. An initial team is prepping the facility to receive tooling in Q4 2024. Details →
NEWS • 10/07/24VIRGIN GALACTIC COMPLETES NEW SPACESHIP MANUFACTURING FACILITY IN ARIZONAPurpose-Built Final Assembly Facility for Delta Spaceships Receives Certificate of OccupancySpaceship Assembly Expected to Begin in Q1 2025Orange County, Calif. – (July 10, 2024) – Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPCE) (“Virgin Galactic” or the “Company”) today announced the completion of its new manufacturing facility in Phoenix, Arizona, where final assembly of its next-generation Delta spaceships is scheduled to take place starting in Q1 2025. An initial team of Virgin Galactic technical operations and manufacturing personnel has begun preparing the facility to receive and install tooling, expected to arrive in Q4 2024. The facility will then begin to receive major subassemblies, including the wing, the fuselage, and the feathering system next year, as the team scales to build the first two ships of the Delta fleet. Once ground testing in Phoenix is complete, Virgin Galactic’s mothership will ferry completed spaceships to Spaceport America, New Mexico for flight test ahead of commercial operations, which are expected to begin in 2026. The multiuse facility includes two hangars equipped with multiple bays, designed for maximum flexibility in building and testing space vehicles. Work at the facility will be supported by the Company’s digital twin technology, which enables seamless integration between Virgin Galactic and suppliers through real-time collaboration, promoting strong governance and increased efficiency and reliability. “The completion of our new manufacturing facility is an important milestone in the development of our fleet of next-generation spaceships, the key to our scale and profitability,” said Virgin Galactic CEO Michael Colglazier. “Tooling will begin arriving in a matter of months to support spaceship final assembly, which we expect to commence in Q1 2025.” In May 2024, Virgin Galactic opened a ground testing facility in Southern California for Delta subsystems, including avionics, feather actuation, pneumatics, and hydraulics, using an Iron Bird test rig. Virgin Galactic’s Delta spaceships will seat up to six private passengers, and each is expected to be capable of flying up to eight missions per month, dramatically increasing access to space.
Just like Boom Aerospace - building a massive facility even when the business case and the budget haven't closed yet - or never. Ain't that a very bad business plan ?
Virgin Galactic’s Delta class spaceship design is backed by years of engineering and analysis from our talented team. To showcase the magnitude of this endeavor, we invite you to watch here for an overview of our next gen production model spaceship design.Tune into the Q2 2024 earnings call today at 2PM PT to hear more updates on the progress we're making →
We’ve taken some big steps forward on our Delta program! In our latest #DeltaDiaries video, President of Spaceline, Mike Moses, talks us through the large scale tools arriving at Qarbon Aerospace in Georgia.
Video:https://twitter.com/virgingalactic/status/1854280271857889491QuoteWe’ve taken some big steps forward on our Delta program! In our latest #DeltaDiaries video, President of Spaceline, Mike Moses, talks us through the large scale tools arriving at Qarbon Aerospace in Georgia.
The company had planned to use revenue from operations of its first two Delta-class spaceplanes, the first of which will start flying commercially in 2026, to fund development of future vehicles. But the company now says it wants to raise money to speed up work on two more Delta-class vehicles and a second mothership, allowing them to enter commercial service in 2028, two years earlier than previously projected.“The growth capital we plan to employ will allow Virgin Galactic to deliver a second mothership and two additional spaceships much earlier than if we were to fund these ships solely through organic growth,” he said.
NEWS • 30/01/25VIRGIN GALACTIC PARTNERS WITH REDWIRE TO ADVANCE RESEARCH CAPABILITIES FOR NEW DELTA SPACESHIPSGlobal Leader in Space Manufacturing Begins Building Next-Generation Research Lockers to Grow the Suborbital-to-Orbital Research MarketORANGE COUNTY, Calif. [Jan. 30] – Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPCE) (“Virgin Galactic” or the “Company”) today announced a partnership with Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW) to manufacture the research payload lockers that will travel aboard Virgin Galactic’s new Delta-Class spaceships. This new platform will significantly upgrade the microgravity research capabilities available with Virgin Galactic. Redwire is a global space infrastructure and innovation company with decades of experience in developing biotech and industrial-manufacturing technologies to operate in microgravity. The company has developed 20 research facilities for crewed spacecraft, with 10 currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), supporting world-leading research and manufacturing missions. Sirisha Bandla, Virgin Galactic’s Vice President of Research Operations, said: “Our new state-of-the-art research platform, designed for compatibility with longer duration space mission locker standards, means we can offer a suborbital space lab suited for testing technologies and research in preparation for orbital, lunar, or Martian missions. Redwire is a pioneer in the commercialization of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) research, and we’re thrilled to partner with Redwire to further enhance Virgin Galactic’s proven, safe, and reliable microgravity research platform.” The new platform will also enhance and simplify the research experience through the customizable Redwire “plug-and-play" lockers, delivering real-time data throughout the entire spaceflight. These lockers are optimized for both autonomous and human-tended research, with adaptable front panels allowing for easier access before, during, and after the spaceflight. They will also allow researchers to transition their suborbital experiments to payloads aboard the ISS at a lower cost and at lower risk. “We’re leveraging everything we have learned in our 35 years of outfitting crewed spacecraft to develop these lockers,” said Redwire President of In Space Industries John Vellinger. “Redwire is excited to partner with Virgin Galactic, leveraging its unique platform for suborbital-to-orbital research and development. Virgin Galactic’s Delta spaceships bring to market a new capability that expands the opportunities for commercial space innovation.” Virgin Galactic’s vehicles offer a suborbital space lab for researchers, commercial industry and governments to experiment, qualify technology and train astronauts in spaceflight and microgravity. Virgin Galactic’s centralized flight operations at Spaceport America offer researchers access to dedicated training programs and facilities, science and research preparation labs and, given the runway takeoff and landing, immediate access to their research for loading and unloading. Virgin Galactic spaceships have the flexibility to hold a blend of payload racks and researcher astronauts to support both autonomous and human-tended research. Each spaceship will be capable of holding five payload racks, for up to 20 lockers total. Currently in production, the first Delta-Class spaceships are expected to enter commercial service in 2026. Virgin Galactic has flown dozens of payloads over seven research missions. Examples of research conducted onboard include: Virgin Galactic has flown dozens of payloads over seven research missions. Examples of research conducted onboard include: Biological experiments using plants to study how gene expression changes as terrestrial organisms transition into the novel space environment. Autonomous experiments to advance biological imaging systems for use in potential planetary lander applications and space exploration, in addition to nanotechnology for small satellites. Low energy, impact experiments to study the behavior of fine particles in dusty environments to inform successful exploration missions of asteroids, the Moon, and Mars. Medical device research to inform astrosurgery capabilities in the event complex procedures need to be conducted in a weightless environment and during long-term space missions. Experiments studying the combustion characteristics of renewable liquid biofuels, contributing to research on efficient technologies for ecosustainable energy and propulsion systems, such as aircraft engines. Physical science experiments examining how confined fluids behave in low gravity to help inform technologies such as spacecraft life-support systems, syringe designs for administering medication in space, and spacecraft propulsion systems. Custom technology developed to study the physiological and emotional responses associated with the “Overview Effect” as well as changing brain pressure and vision during spaceflight.You can read more about the Virgin Galactic suborbital research program here.
2025 is off to amazing start here at Virgin Galactic! Mike Moses, President of Virgin Galactic’s Spaceline, recaps our latest milestones.
While there will be a wait before something goes to orbit from Spaceport America, Virgin Galactic will begin testing its two new spaceships later this year and should resume its suborbital space tourism program in 2026. The new spaceships are designed for ease of manufacturing, simplified maintenance, and for quick turn-around times between flights. With these ships, VG is forecasting 125 flights per year.And although some flights will be payload flights, this still means around 700 people per year will travel space from New Mexico (with an estimated 15,000 related visitors as ‘friends and family’ of the passengers).
