Virgin Galactic to use Virgin Atlantic pilots as astronauts for SpaceShipTwo

[Chris Bergin]

http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles/2006/03/31/Navigation/177/205761/Virgin+Galactic+to+use+Virgin+Atlantic+pilots+as+astronauts+for.html

[Peter NASA]

While it ma be good PR, I think they would be better advised to go after experieneced fighter pilots or test pilots.

[gladiator1332]

You don't know how great this news is!!! I'm going off to college next year to major in Flight Technology...just a fancy title for "Training to be a Commercial Pilot". I was hoping that eventually some of the spacelines would allow commercial pilots fly their spacecraft.
While in the beginning this may not be a good idea, i too would rather see military pilots take the controls first, I hope say, 20 years from now, it will be a common place for commercial pilots to graduate to spacecraft.

[simonbp]

Peter NASA - 31/3/2006  5:40 PM

While it ma be good PR, I think they would be better advised to go after experieneced fighter pilots or test pilots.

Alot of commercial pilots are experienced ex-military...

Simon

[Dogsbd]

simonbp - 31/3/2006  7:12 PM

Peter NASA - 31/3/2006  5:40 PM

While it ma be good PR, I think they would be better advised to go after experieneced fighter pilots or test pilots.

Alot of commercial pilots are experienced ex-military...

Simon

At least 2 of the 3 Virgin pilots thus far annouced are former RAF pilots.

[Hotol]

This is interesting, as it would mean we'd have British Astronauts, and not ones that became US citizens. Isn't there still a law in place that means it's illegal?

[Jim]

Hotol - 1/4/2006  9:43 AMThis is interesting, as it would mean we'd have British Astronauts, and not ones that became US citizens. Isn't there still a law in place that means it's illegal?

How would that be illegal?

[Hotol]

http://www.thespacereview.com/article/496/1 - we have do do everything through ESA, thanks to being in the stupid European Union. We don't even feel European, so it's all messed up.

[nacnud]

I'm perfectly happy being European, especialy considering the very small buget we have. I'd rather be a small part of a lot of missions than one or no missions at all.

[mr.columbus]

Hotol - 1/4/2006  11:20 AM

http://www.thespacereview.com/article/496/1 - we have do do everything through ESA, thanks to being in the stupid European Union. We don't even feel European, so it's all messed up.

1. ESA is not integrated in the EU structure, it is an independent pan-european organisation.

2. ESA has both a mandatory and a voluntary program, member states don't have to commit 60% of their space budget to ESA if they don't want to. The french CNES or the german DLR are quite notable as national space agencies standing alone.

3. Therefore, don't blame ESA or even the EU for the UK not having a separate notable space program, that's a political decision made by British politicians.

[David BAE]

Hotol - 1/4/2006  9:43 AM

This is interesting, as it would mean we'd have British Astronauts, and not ones that became US citizens. Isn't there still a law in place that means it's illegal?

It's not illegal, we simply saw whatever chance we had of making an assult on the launch business, one that I'm sure would have been hugely impressive, and very useful to the Americans during the downtime post Challenger and Columbia, had it not of been for Prime Minister Thatcher blocking every funding request at every turn.

We have some of the best engineers and designers in the world here, and we continue to strangle hold them into leaving the country.

[Martin FL]

Dogsbd - 31/3/2006  10:46 PM


At least 2 of the 3 Virgin pilots thus far annouced are former RAF pilots.

I wonder if they thought it would be like the USAF where there would be the potential of riding into space.

[James Lowe1]

http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles/2006/04/25/Navigation/177/206162/Virgin+Galactic+tests+SS2+cockpit+and+considers+pilot.html