Author Topic: Virgin Galactic and SpaceShipTwo Master Thread (1) (Read 255438 times)

Jorge · « **Reply #60 on:** 12/08/2009 12:49 am »

Quote from: Oberon_Command on 12/08/2009 12:48 am

Does anyone have any links or information regarding how many flights SS2 would have to fly per year in order to break even cost-wise?

I'm quite sure that information is deeply proprietary and anything available publicly would be a WAG.

yg1968 · « **Reply #61 on:** 12/08/2009 01:14 am »

Small videos:

http://vidly.com/bHwD

http://astrocast.tv/blog/?p=2576

bad_astra · « **Reply #62 on:** 12/08/2009 01:56 am »

Quote from: astrobrian on 12/08/2009 12:41 am

Quote from: jcopella on 12/08/2009 12:35 am
Quote from: MikeMi. on 12/07/2009 11:20 pm
webcast is runiing!

Link?
Post #55

was there ever a live webcast?

DirtyDeeds · « **Reply #63 on:** 12/08/2009 02:25 am »

The State of California was running a webcast on its government TV station and its website. It was also being recast on spacevidcast.com, but that broadcast was cut right after the governor of New Mexico ended his little speech. I don't think there was any live video of the rollout.

yg1968 · « **Reply #64 on:** 12/08/2009 02:54 am »

Video of Schwarzenegger's speech:

http://www.dot.ca.gov/govflash/20091207_virgin_space_gov.flv

TheFallen · « **Reply #65 on:** 12/08/2009 03:58 am »

Quote from: Downix on 12/07/2009 08:08 pm

Quote from: TheFallen on 12/07/2009 08:01 pm
Quote from: mjcrsmith on 12/07/2009 06:22 pm
From the press release. Gota love it!

"...will today christen SS2 with the name Virgin Space Ship (VSS) ENTERPRISE."

Throw George Lucas a bone! Name the second SS2 the MILLENIUM FALCON.
The second SS2 is named Voyager:

http://www.moneyweek.com/investment-advice/will-space-tourism-ever-take-off.aspx

Heh, I just found out right now.

I also read that the next White Knight Two will be known as VMS Spirit of Steve Fossett.

MikeMi. · « **Reply #66 on:** 12/08/2009 07:49 am »

Quote from: bad_astra on 12/08/2009 01:56 am

Quote from: astrobrian on 12/08/2009 12:41 am
Quote from: jcopella on 12/08/2009 12:35 am
Quote from: MikeMi. on 12/07/2009 11:20 pm
webcast is runiing!

Link?
Post #55

was there ever a live webcast?

Yea, I watched it around 45 minutes, there were speeches of Rutan's engs team, Branson, Arnold, Richardson and couple of persons more. If im correct then I think I saw new machine outside but heee there was an awful weather there yesterday, high wind and precipitation.

thomson · « **Reply #67 on:** 12/08/2009 11:28 am »

Where is the first WK2+SS2 test scheduled? I suppose they'll start with high speed taxing tests? Any info?

daver · « **Reply #68 on:** 12/08/2009 11:36 am »

Space Flight Now has a nice set of photos.

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0912/07spaceshiptwo/gallery.html

Ben the Space Brit · « **Reply #69 on:** 12/08/2009 11:42 am »

I've always liked Virgin Atlantic's "ladies in red" nose art. I'm glad to see that VG has kept up the tradition.

Anjunabeats · « **Reply #70 on:** 12/08/2009 12:20 pm »

~ British dance act serve up theme to SpaceShipTwo plus exclusive DJ set
at launch event ~

When Virgin Galactic were looking for some atmospheric music to herald the launch of their ground-breaking 'SpaceShipTwo' this week, they turned to the UK's biggest DJs, Above & Beyond.

At an event hosted by Richard Branson in the Mojave Desert, the track chosen to accompany the official unveiling of SpaceShipTwo was Above & Beyond's club anthem 'Buzz', which samples Buzz Aldrin's original moon-landing dialogue. To mark the occasion, guests were also handed a special 'Galactic Grooves' USB wristband, featuring a selection of Above & Beyond's songs.

After the unveiling and naming by governors Richardson and Schwarzenegger, Above & Beyond performed an exclusive DJ set in front of an audience of 800 dignitaries, celebrities and soon-to-be astronauts, plus the assembled global media.

Jono Grant from Above & Beyond said: "We're big fans of all things space-related and so in terms of dream gigs, this is up there alongside our performance in Rio to 1 million people. We're now hoping to persuade Richard to let us DJ on the first Virgin Galactic passenger flight into space!"

The launch party also featured the first ever ice bar in the desert, hosted by Absolut and Swedish IceHotel, and all the guests were protected from the desert cold by designer space jackets supplied by PUMA. Finally, to close off the celebrations, all the guests were given the opportunity to view the stunning night skies using specialist telescopes supplied by Ron Dantowitz of the Clay Observatory, whose unique tracking cameras followed SpaceShipOne into space during the epic flights of 2004.

Virgin Galactic is the world's first consumer space travel operator, with flights costing $200,000. Check www.virgingalactic.com for details.

Watch the Virgin Galactic/Above & Beyond video here

Chris Bergin · « **Reply #71 on:** 12/08/2009 12:48 pm »

What on Earth does SS2 have to do with the Apollo missions? Absolutely shocking how Branson is pumping this crap.

Ben the Space Brit · « **Reply #72 on:** 12/08/2009 01:19 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 12/08/2009 12:48 pm

What on Earth does SS2 have to do with the Apollo missions? Absolutely shocking how Branson is pumping this crap.

It's just marketing Chris. If there's anything Mr. Branson is good at, it is marketing and publicity (especially self-publicity). He is simply choosing the most instantly identifiable achievements to give him efforts greater publicity.

I find it significant that, after 30 years of the shuttle, the Apollo missions are still the most instantly recognisable HSF achievement to those outside the enclosed pressure cooker of the space community.

Namechange User · « **Reply #73 on:** 12/08/2009 01:35 pm »

Quote from: Ben the Space Brit on 12/08/2009 01:19 pm

I find it significant that, after 30 years of the shuttle, the Apollo missions are still the most instantly recognisable HSF achievement to those outside the enclosed pressure cooker of the space community.

You probably shouldn't. What do you learn about in school? When Columbus supposedly discovered the New World or when the first steam ship crossed the Atlantic?

All the VG folks are trying to do is draw a comparison to another big moment in history. While this may not have the same "wow factor" as Apollo, it's could be a major milestone and one people point to one day saying this is when we started to become a true space fairing people.

Launchpad911 · « **Reply #74 on:** 12/08/2009 01:58 pm »

I have got to say that, once again, Burt Rutan has created another impressive looking machine.

When I was at the Oshkosh AirVenture in 2008, Rutan promised that the first flight of SS2 would take place from AirVenture in 2009. That of course didn't happen. I wonder if he plans on bringing SS2 to Airventure this year to show off?

bad_astra · « **Reply #75 on:** 12/08/2009 02:11 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 12/08/2009 12:48 pm

What on Earth does SS2 have to do with the Apollo missions? Absolutely shocking how Branson is pumping this crap.

Like Apollo, VG gets people interested in space. Once could say Apollo led the way.

kevin-rf · « **Reply #76 on:** 12/08/2009 02:29 pm »

Quote from: Chris Bergin on 12/08/2009 12:48 pm

What on Earth does SS2 have to do with the Apollo missions? Absolutely shocking how Branson is pumping this crap.

Well Chris, being the mod and all, you could always combine this thread with the suborbital thread

Btw. How is the suborbital thread that tries to document all "suborbital" space launches going to handle all these flights?

nacnud · « **Reply #77 on:** 12/08/2009 02:42 pm »

Quote from: kevin-rf on 12/08/2009 02:29 pm

Btw. How is the suborbital thread that tries to document all "suborbital" space launches going to handle all these flights?

In a long list?

DirtyDeeds · « **Reply #78 on:** 12/08/2009 03:38 pm »

Quote from: daver on 12/08/2009 11:36 am

Space Flight Now has a nice set of photos.

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0912/07spaceshiptwo/gallery.html

That picture of the girl is supposedly a depiction of Branson's mother "back in the day" and was done by Branson's nephew, whose name is... *shudder*.... Ned Rocknroll. That's all a little too much for me to handle in the creepiness department.

EDIT: Source for that is http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/12/07/2143953.aspx
Third paragraph after the "Touring SpaceShipTwo's Hangar" part.

Also, I hope that the people who use Virgin Galactic will be called "space travelers" or something like that, keeping the term "astronaut" an achievement in itself.

bad_astra · « **Reply #79 on:** 12/08/2009 03:56 pm »

Can't imagine using my mother as a bomber-girl, but I am glad of the return of nose art. Now if they'll just put pre-90's Geena Davis on the nose of Endeavour..