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NASA Charters Flights Aboard Virgin's SpaceShipTwo

Posted by Soulskill on from the branson's-upper-atmosphere-experience dept.

Zothecula writes "Although Virgin Galactic is generally known as a space tourism company, it sees research experiments as a future mission segment and significant business opportunity. To this end, the company has signed a contract with NASA to provide up to three charter flights on its SpaceShipTwo suborbital spaceplane. The deal follows the curtain closing on the Space Shuttle program earlier this year and is part of NASA's Flight Opportunities Program, which is charged with providing reduced-gravity environments for research experiments while encouraging the emerging commercial space industry." In related news, a 68,000-sq. ft. facility has opened in California that will assist in the assembly of SpaceShipTwo spaceplanes.

4 of 76 comments (clear)

  1. When they Ask, Where were you. by sabs · · Score: 1, Insightful

    When they ask, what was the moment that the US gave up. This will be the moment we remember. NASA having to charter flights to space, from a Private Company. When was it that, We the People, finally Deep Throated Corporations. It was then.

    Our priorities as a nation are completely screwed up.

    1. Re:When they Ask, Where were you. by Darth+Snowshoe · · Score: 5, Insightful

      NASA chartered flights to low earth orbit. NASA built a spacecraft that's going to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt. Oh, and another one that's going closest to the sun. And robots to scoot around Mars for years at a time. And a telescope (Kepler) that's found hundreds of exoplanets already. Just for starters.

      If you want a bigger better NASA then call your congresspeople and support their budget.

    2. Re:When they Ask, Where were you. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Amen. NASA doesn't build its own trucks either. This just isn't a big deal.

  2. Feels better...but is it? by Covalent · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The military contracts jobs out all the time (think Halliburton). The results are mixed at best. This one feels more likely to be fair, cheaper, and successful, but I still have my doubts. As much heat as NASA catches for the flaws in its designs, space travel is VERY hard. I'm not sure Virgin can do it that much better.

    --
    Great warrior...hrmph! Wars not make one great.