Virgin Galactic, the world’s first commercial spaceline, announced that its passenger-carrying suborbital space vehicle, SpaceShipTwo (SS2), successfully completed its first glide flight test. The spaceship’s engine, RocketMotorTwo (RM2), underwent another successful full duration test fire, marking the first time the company and its partners have undertaken test flight and test firing on the same day. Both milestones prime Virgin Galactic to reach powered flight by the end of the year.
Virgin Galactic will be the main attraction at the Farnborough Air Show from 9 to 15 July 2012. A version of Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo – a two-pilot, six-passenger craft capable of sub-orbital travel – is scheduled to make its European debut at the show.
Reports suggest Virgin boss Richard Branson will use the event to reveal design changes to the craft, which could be carrying its first passengers into orbit next year. So far 500 people — including movie star Ashton Kutcher — have signed up for a $200,000 flight.
A dozen of the passengers already booked to ride on the first Virgin Galactic suborbital space flights, which are planned for 2013, are from the UAE.
