In a major milestone for space tourism, Virgin Galactic has announced that it will start assembling its first new generation suborbital spaceplane next month. This announcement comes as a sign of progress for the company, which has been working towards offering commercial flights to space for over a decade.
The spaceplane, named VSS Imagine, is set to begin its assembly process in March and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. This marks an important step towards realizing Virgin Galactic’s dream of making space travel accessible to the general public.
Virgin Galactic’s CEO, Michael Colglazier, expressed his excitement about this new development, stating that “the assembly of VSS Imagine is not just the beginning of a new spaceplane, but the beginning of a new chapter in the history of space travel.” He also emphasized the company’s commitment to safety and innovation as they work towards their goal of commercial flights in mid-2026.
The VSS Imagine is the first of the company’s new SpaceShip III class vehicles, which have been designed to be more efficient and cost-effective than their predecessors. These vehicles will also offer a more immersive experience for passengers, with large windows and a new mirror-like coating on the exterior to reflect the surrounding colors of the Earth and the sky.
The spaceplane will undergo a rigorous testing process before it is deemed safe for commercial flights. This will include multiple test flights with trained pilots and engineers on board to ensure the highest level of safety for passengers. Once all safety protocols are met, Virgin Galactic plans to offer suborbital flights to paying customers, making space travel a reality for the general public.
This news has been met with excitement and anticipation in the space community, with many seeing it as a step towards making space accessible to everyone. Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Galactic, has long been an advocate for commercial space travel and has expressed his excitement for the first new spaceplane, stating that “our goal is to create an experience that is both transformative and inspiring for our customers, while also conducting research and gathering data to help shape the future of space exploration.”
The VSS Imagine will be followed by its sister ship, VSS Inspire, which is currently in the early stages of production. Virgin Galactic plans to have a fleet of five SpaceShip III vehicles by 2023, with the ultimate goal of offering daily flights to space.
The post Virgin Galactic shared on their official website that “we are at the dawn of a new age in space exploration, and we are honored to be leading the way with the development of the first new generation of spaceplanes.” This sentiment is shared by many in the space industry, who see the advancements being made by Virgin Galactic as a step towards a more inclusive and accessible future in space.
While there are still challenges and milestones to overcome, the assembly of VSS Imagine marks an exciting and promising step towards realizing the dream of space tourism for the general public. As Virgin Galactic continues to push the boundaries of space travel, we can only imagine what the future holds for space exploration. Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting journey.