First Image of Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo

mtargettuk writes "First image of Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo structure: Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo is under construction at Scaled Composites in Mojave, California and Flightglobal has obtained what appears to be the first image of its cockpit section."

Comments

Don't click that link

[Gewalt]

The link in the summary redirected me to a domain squatter.

Re:Farmer Joe's Truck?

[eln]

Personally, I think it's a smart move. It's a little known fact that private space exploration has failed to take off because most companies are still trying to come up with sufficiently futuristic-looking methods of moving spacecraft parts around before they can start work on the actual going into space bit.

While few doubt that Virgin will eventually need to come up with some sort of overly-aerodynamic truck design propelled by some sort of weird blue jets that cause it to both hover and move in any direction, the "Grandpa's old Ford" method should be okay for the short term.

Re:Link protected

[khallow]

So unless you're a competitor looking to derive secrets about SpaceShipTwo's construction, just move along. There's nothing to see here.

Have you ever wondered whether Scaled Composites and Virgin Galactic were serious about this thing? Or how much that accident almost a year ago set back things? Well this is a data point that indicates some construction (or "bending of metal") is going on. Peeks like this help us understand the progress of another otherwise secretive business.

Re:Farmer Joe's Truck?

[Thrakamazog]

I was actually quite pleased to see it on the back of a plane old truck. Too many people think spaceflight is some magical unreal thing. The more we see it as part of our everyday life the more we expect it to be there. The more we expect it to be there the more likely it will be.

Re:UH...

[prestomation]

Are the mods all drunk? Who modded this informative?

Well, maybe it is

Re:Who knew?

[Rei]

Oh, and by the way, please elaborate on the proven viability of SS2.

For years, I was warning people that Scaled was playing fast and loose with safety. I wrote this in 2006 (and updated with the latter link in early 2007, before the accident):

"Rutan, on the other hand, nearly killed his test pilot by launching in high wind shear conditions, and launching before resolving the cause of wild rolls at rocket ignition. With just a small handful of flights. On a task that is incredibly easy compared to reaching orbit. Some view the rocketplane tourism industry as a disaster waiting to happen."

I would rather have been proven wrong.

Re:Who knew?

[Rei]

Blowing up wealthy passengers isn't exactly an attractive business model, no matter what waivers you make them sign. And if the current disregard toward safety continues, that's exactly what's going to happen.