VSS Unity was unveiled in FAITH (Final Assembly Integration Test Hangar), the Mojave- based home of manufacturing and testing for Virgin Galactic’s human space flight program.
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A Range Rover Autobiography was used to bring the new Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo into public view for the first time.
First revealed in 2008, SpaceShipTwo was created to carry six passengers and two pilots for short flights into space.
Star guest at the launch was Professor Stephen Hawking, who claimed that the world is “entering a new space age” as he helped to unveil the spacecraft.
Friday’s unveiling set the stage for the new ship’s first round of test flights.
After 2014 accident in which Virgin Galactic’s spacecraft was destroyed and one of the pilots was killed, the prominent space line is finally getting back on track and will roll out the new version of its SpaceShipTwo space tourism rocket Friday.
If the ship passes the tests, Virgin Galactic plans to use it to ferry passengers up 50 miles above Earth’s surface.
The astrophysicist said: “A man with the vision and persistence to open up space flight for ordinary, Earth-bound citizens, Richard Branson made it his mission to make space flight a reality for those intrepid enough to venture beyond the boundaries of the earth’s atmosphere”.
According to Branson the new vehicle means that the space can become more accessible to people in a way which has been long dreamt of.
“Our handsome new spaceship, VSS Unity, is the embodiment of that goal and also a great testament to what can be achieved when true teamwork, great skill and deep pride are combined with a common objective”, Branson remarked in a press release.
“From our tens of thousands of employees and customers to schools and colleges, motivating more young people to pursue careers in engineering, science and technology – and explore new ways of travelling for future generations”.
Virgin Galactic is among a handful of companies, including Elon Musk’s SpaceX, Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, Paul Allen’s Stratolaunch Systems and Boeing, planning to fly people in space.
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“I never thought I would have the opportunity to see our lovely planet from space, or gaze down into the infinity beyond”, Hawking said in a recorded message played at the unveiling. “We seem to be able to cooperate between nations in space in a way we can only envy on Earth”. To ensure Hawking’s contributions are remembered even if he finds himself unable to personally fly into space, the company has now included a flag in the Unity’s logo bearing an image of Hawking’s eye.
