Hot on HuffPost Travel:

 

Virgin Galactic Makes One Giant Leap for Space Tourism

by Libby Zay Subscribe to Libby Zay's postsPosted Mar 23rd 2010 02:01 PM

TEXT SIZE:

AAA

Virgin Galactic

Space tourism moved one flight closer to reality Monday when Virgin Galactic took its maiden "captive carry" test flight over the California desert.

Virgin Galactic announced a passenger spaceship, the VSS Enterprise, took to the skies yesterday piggybacking off her proud mother ship, the VMS Eve.

The duo -- dubbed SpaceShipTwo -- reached an altitude of 45,000-feet during its two hour, 54-minute flight. In future tests, the pair will increase their height to 50,000-feet, where the spacecraft will blast off from under the wings of its carrier and into space.

The VSS Enterprise will shuttle six passengers and two pilots into space, where they will experience weightlessness while viewing the earth and stars from two large windows: one at the side of the plane and another overhead.

Virgin Galactic, part of billionaire business mogul Richard Branson's Virgin Group, said they expect the first passenger flight will be completed by 2011. The company claims to have already collected around $45-million in deposits from over 330 people willing to fork over $200,000 for the suborbital experience.

For more information on Virgin Galactic, visit www.virgingalactic.com.
Filed Under: News

Add a Comment

*0 / 3000 Character Maximum

22 Comments

Filter by:
Ovais Mirza

Hey - nice blog, just looking about some blogs, appears a pretty good platform you are utilizing. I’m currently utilizing Wordpress for several of my websites but looking to change 1 of them around to a platform similar to yours like a trial run. Anything in particular you would suggest about it?
http://www.stockstipsonline.com/
http://www.delhitrainingcourses.com/

November 03 2011 at 3:59 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ovais Mirza

Your blog really brought some things to light that I never would have thought about before reading it. You should continue this, Im sure most people would agree youve got a gift. Excellent blog post, I look forward to reading more. Thank you for bringing more information to this topic for me. Im truly grateful and really impressed.
http://www.internetmarketingtrainingindia.com/

November 03 2011 at 3:58 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jessicca Robertt

Thanks for providing such useful information. I really appreciate your professional approach. I would like to thank you for the efforts you made in writing this post. I like the way you start and then conclude your thoughts.Thanks for taking the time to discuss this,would you mind updating your blog with more information? It is extremely helpful for me.I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well.

I am Jessiccarobertt From London! I am as a Health product provider executive specially Women's health Product and I am looking for purchase Breast Enhancement Serum,Cream for women's of without surgery. If you want to do increase your breast for looking fit and sexy you can used this amazing product!!Are you interested to read about this amazing breast Enhancement product.

Best Regards
http://track.moreniche.com/hit.php?w=231163&s=170 | http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/565206/137823/triactol | http://forums.webmd.com/3/breast-enhancement/resource/2

May 07 2011 at 3:07 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Yarah

Thanks for providing such useful information. I really appreciate your professional approach. Your article very interesting
http://www.forcefactorsuccess.com/

March 16 2011 at 3:02 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Roser Ban

Thanks for providing such useful information. I really appreciate your professional approach. I would like to thank you for the efforts you made in writing this post.I really appreciate the kind of topics you post here. Thanks for sharing us a great information that is actually helpful. I am hoping the same best work from you in the future as well.
http://www.seotrainingcoursedelhi.blogspot.com/
http://www.squidoo.com/seotrainingcoursedelhi
http://seotrainingcourseindelhi.wordpress.com/

January 27 2011 at 2:14 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jessiccarobertt

I liked your post. It was informative. Only One word to characterize such a great post “WOW” that was a very interesting read.such a wonderful information for me..i am really impressed it. I appreciate you for your great Information. http://www.iaan.org

December 06 2010 at 6:24 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
masonstorm

I think this is one of the few times imo when privatization is a really good idea. Whether we think it’s necessary or not, we need to continue to develop new forms of space travel and technology to facilitate it. What the ppl whose only argument is “we have too many problems down here to be worrying about this,” they fail to understand the two most important implications of aeronautical research. The first is for national defense… it’s bad enough that nasa has to rely on Russia to ferry them to the ISS. If we keep going at this rate, our disadvantage will only grow as they continue to develop new technologies in their space program while we pump the brakes on ours. Is air and space superiority something you really want the Russians to have? It doesn’t seem like a good idea for any one country to have, let alone one whom we have a sketchy history with. The second is that with aeronautical research comes a flood of new technologies, most of which are very applicable to us down on earth. For example, if it wasn’t for nasa, we wouldn’t have the chips that we use for non-invasive biopsies, solar energy, and a whole litany of other things (http://www.thespaceplace.com/nasa/spinoffs.html#Top has a good number of inventions that most of us don’t know came from our space program). And if you’re one of those ppl that are so skeptical (or cynical imo) that you still don’t think that any of the things on this list warrant a larger investment in a privatized space industry, just remember that while you sleep at night, you most likely have nasa to thank for that, too. If you use any type of home security system, chances are they use infrared and laser technology that came out of nasa’s research (just look at the adt wireless security system infrared camera page. They even admit that the technology came from nasa!)

November 16 2010 at 3:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Roser Ban

Only One word to characterize such a great post “WOW” that was a very interesting read
such a wonderful information for me..i am really impress it.
http://www.badrinathsatopanthyatra.com/
http://www.iaan.org/

November 10 2010 at 11:58 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mehtab Alam

Only One word to characterize such a great post “WOW” that was a very interesting read
such a wonderful information for me..i am really impress it.
http://www.badrinathsatopanthyatra.com/
http://www.iaan.org/

November 10 2010 at 6:34 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
kaseyhutchings

Do you think VIRGIN Galactic should have some kind of a lottery to raise money and give a chance ot a random person to be among the first to fly in space?
http://enlargemaxx.net/enlarge-maxx-review-does-enlargemaxx-male-enhancement-work

September 23 2010 at 3:11 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

Hot 5 Deals

The Hot 5 Deals & Discount Travel.
Get top travel deals to compare and save money.

Link Love

Associated Press

Which cards are the best to travel with?

Take These Cards

Travel Buzz

Getty Images

Drive up to these 10 cool restaurants.

Great Road Grub
Getty

Read the 25 best travel books of all time.

Best of the Books
Getty Images

Six locales where getting lost is the best way to explore.

Where to Lose Yourself

Around the web

  • Even when you're traveling, follow what's going on in your neighborhood.
    Get the Patch app.
  • .