The X Prize

Scaled Composites’ X Prize-winning SpaceShipOne and WhiteKnightOne mothership are the prototypes for Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnightTwo.  Burt Rutan and his crew, with the financial backing of Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, designed and manufactured these vessels for entry in the competition. The Ansari X Prize rules called for the aircraft to carry three passengers 100 km above the surface of the Earth and back twice in two weeks, using 80% of the original spacecraft for the second flight.  SpaceShipOne captured the $10 million prize on October 4, 2004 with time to spare.

As will be the case with Branson’s ships, both these ships were constructed with composite materials which render them strong yet lightweight.  WhiteKnightOne looks something like a flying catamaran with symmetrical jet shapes held together by a graceful over-wing.  SpaceShipOne is attached beneath that over-wing, between the two jets, and gets a free ride until the ships reach an altitude of approximately 50,000 feet and she’s released to continue the trip to sub-orbital space under her own power.

And power she has, using nitrous oxide as the oxidizer and rubber as the fuel to reach speeds of Mach 3 as she rockets to 68 miles above the Earth’s surface.  Then the wings are raised, “feathered”, in preparation for reentry while the passengers experience weightlessness for up to six minutes. SpaceShipOne’s return to Earth is unpowered and made possible by pure genius: The folded wings introduce a shuttlecock effect, producing significant drag at a high altitude so there is less stress on the craft during reentry.  This wing configuration causes the ship to self-adjust along the way, maintaining the trajectory needed - without any action by the pilot - to bring her to an altitude where the wings can be repositioned and she can safely glide to a landing. The stable fuel mixture and “care-free reentry” system – initially tested using computer models rather than wind tunnels – are important features of the future Virgin Galactic spacefleet.

All of this technology was proven during the X Prize competition.  Unproven was how it will work in WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo, the larger versions required to transport Branson’s load of six passengers and two pilots per flight.  Any concerns about WhiteKnightTwo were laid to rest in 2008 when she was successfully tested after being unveiled in July and named the VMS Eve (VirginMotherShip Eve) in tribute to Branson’s mother.  All that remains is the unveiling of SpaceShipTwo, aka Virgin SpaceShip Enterprise (VSS Enterprise) at the end of 2009 and her testing early in 2010.

SpaceShipTwo

SpaceShipTwo is the type of craft that will carry six passengers and two pilots into sub-orbital space.  Initial plans call for five of them to be built.  Their double hull construction ensures a stable atmosphere inside the vessel in the event one layer fails. The small, round windows minimize the structural load.  Each window has two panes – to ensure damage to one pane doesn’t result in depressurization of the spacecraft.  Pressure inside the craft will be high compared to the outside atmosphere in space – to prevent it from collapsing on itself.  The air in the cabin will be scrubbed of CO₂ and continually refreshed with a small amount of fresh oxygen during the flight. As a result, the passengers and pilots will not require bulky spacesuits and breathing apparatus.  Precisely what they’ll wear has yet to be decided.

Once SpaceShipTwo reaches her apogee, passengers can float free inside the craft.  The many windows, positioned to give the pilot optimal views during the various orientations experienced during the 2.5-hour round trip, will allow the passengers to see 1,000-miles in all directions.  They’ll observe the curve of the earth, her atmosphere, and the dark of space.  When reentry begins, passengers will recline as the pressure reaches approximately 6 g’s for a brief period of the 30-minute return.

Reservations Anyone?

The price of a ride depends upon when you travel.  If you’re one of the first 100 – Founders – it’s $200,000 per ticket.  For the next 500 - Pioneers – the cost ranges from $175,000 down to $100,000 per ticket.  The last to go – Voyagers – travel for $20,000 per ticket.  All reservations are refundable and require prepayment in full.  The Founder level is sold out.  So are over 100 seats of the Pioneer Level.  In fact, Virgin Galactic has $40 million in deposits from 280 customers.  But money alone is not enough to get you onboard.  In keeping with Branson’s focus on safety and a pleasant experience, passengers must have a health check and complete a program designed to test them under the conditions they’ll encounter during flight before they’re cleared to go.  With a pass rate well over 85%, those with reservations stand an excellent chance of qualifying.  Before the actual flight, passengers will spend two to three days in training near the spaceport.

You can’t just get a ticket anywhere.  In the US they’re available exclusively through travel specialists who are affiliated with the Virtuoso network.  Even at that, only 46 men and women have been selected and qualified as Virgin Galactic Accredited Space Agents (ASA).  To earn this distinction, they completed a one-day training program that includes a spin in the NASTAR sub-orbital flight simulator.  This way they can speak from experience when describing the g-forces on SpaceShipTwo.

Research Opportunities on the Horizon

Paying space tourists are an excellent source of revenue but Branson’s goal is to open space to as many people as possible by reducing ticket prices over time.  A second revenue stream is essential and Virgin Galactic’s plans include taking low-gravity monitors/experiments along on flights for paying corporate and government customers. To date, Virgin Galactic has a Letter of Intent for work to be done for NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) on a no-fee basis to start.  A show of interest from other agencies and corporations leads them to forecast breakeven in 2012.

Progress on Spacecraft/Infrastructure

With WhiteKnightTwo completed and tested, the only thing missing is proof of the performance of SpaceShipTwo.  And a place to launch and land. SpaceShipTwo is reported to be 60% complete and initial flights are slated to land and take off from the Mojave Spaceport in Mojave, California – home of Rutan’s Scaled Composites.  Once it’s completed, flights will use the future home of Virgin Galactic headquarters - SpacePort America.  Located in the middle of 9,000 miles of restricted airspace in New Mexico, SpacePort America will include a 15,000-foot runway and an eco-friendly terminal constructed largely underground.  The lack of commercial air traffic will allow Virgin Galactic to schedule flights at will.  It also ensures clear passage for SpaceShipTwo on her return flights when, due to their unpowered nature, she will need to land essentially where she took off.

The Future

Virgin Galactic isn’t the only company with plans to enter the commercial space business.  There are several competitors intent on winning what is referred to as Space Race II.  But Branson’s company has several things to its advantage.  Things like that exclusive license to Rutan’s proven design and composite construction, $40 million in deposits, prospects for paying research and payloads to supplement the income from civilian passengers, and Sir Richard Branson himself.

Never one to back down from a challenge, Branson’s talents lie not only in promotion but in the successful execution of his grand plans.  From music to air travel Branson has delivered on his promises.  Now he’s said he’ll develop a viable commercial spacefleet that’s also in integrity with his commitment to renewable energy sources.  All proceeds from the Virgin Group’s transportation companies have been invested in renewable energy initiatives since 2006 and SpacePort America will get all its energy from renewable sources.  Virgin Galactic’s commercial spacefleet will also use technologies that minimize their impact on the environment.

It’s difficult to imagine those first sub-orbital flights without a thrill of anticipation as the promise of travel outside our atmosphere nears reality for more than just a handful of specially selected and trained individuals.  When WhiteKnightTwo/VMS Eve takes off on her maiden voyage with SpaceShipTwo/VSS Enterprise in place, it won’t be true any longer that the sky is the limit.  After fifty years of space exploration prioritized and run by government entities, the race to discover just what the limit might be will finally have begun in earnest.