Space for the Masses

by ANN Correspondent Chris Esposito

Who thought a business plan could actually be made to reach for the stars?  Virgin Galactic COO Alex Tai took some time at AirVenture 2007 to describe what the company plans to accomplish, both in the near and distant future.

Many are familiar with the accomplishments of Burt Rutan and the evolution of SpaceShipOne, but little has been heard on the development of SpaceShipTwo and the future of Virgin Galactic. Alex Tai described what one can expect from the Virgin Galactic experience, which will start at a "bargain" $200,000.

He promises after 10 years of development and knowledge gained from Virgin Galactic operations, the price of a spaceflight is expected to drop dramatically. While the current spacecraft has a rocket motor that must be replaced after each flight, the goal is to eventually move to a safe reusable propulsion system.

"This isn't just about building something for some financial reason," Tai says. Solar power and communications systems in space are a priority to Virgin Galactic, and through small steps Virgin will gain an understanding of space operations and may eventually offer a full array of commercial services to the cosmos.

With 6.5 billion people on the planet, pollution concerns, and global warming, Tai emphasizes that "space flight matters." Virgin Galactic's services are aimed at the mass market, though initially the cost of a ticket is going to be substantial.

Bringing the price down is a priority, which is why funds from flights will go directly into the development of SpaceShipThree and SpaceShipFour.

Initial ships will fly a suborbital parabola, in which four minutes of weightlessness will be experienced. Essentially, the White Knight 2 launch aircraft will drop the ship from an altitude of 50,000 feet, SpaceShipTwo will fire its rocket and cut the thrust at 180,000 feet, and at four times the speed of sound the ship will slowly fall back to Earth, allowing for the experience of weightlessness that is so very desired.

The entire experience will last about two and a half hours. Big windows, a spacious cabin, and a passenger-friendly interior are designed to maximize the spaceflight experience.

To prepare the space tourists and protect them from "sensory overload," Virgin Galactic will implement a training program aimed at reducing any negative side effects or anxiety one might experience along the journey. Training will be comprehensive, and would require tourists to spend 2-3 days with the company. Introducing the tourists to supersonic flight, the amazing view, and zero G and high G exposure will be important parts of this training.

Tai (shown above, at left) wants to make clear that there will be "the G forces you'd expect without looking like you're getting strapped into some torture chamber." The typical "Virgin Treatment" can also be expected, which will include a luxurious launch facility as well as resort accommodations.

Personal flight plans will be developed for each passenger so that they can optimize their four minutes soaring through the heavens. Tourists will be prepped psychologically and physiologically, and safety training will be an important part of these preparations. Tai wants to avoid what he calls sensory overload, which he defines as the point "when your senses are stretched to the absolute maximum."

One can imagine that the launch, which will be close to four Gs and will last 90 seconds, could be a bit harsh to the "untrained" space-traveler. Tai describes re-entry as being "like a thunderstorm in a car," as air molecules smack into the ship's surface.

Virgin Galactic has designed a flight suit that will allow for lots of flexibility and excellent communications capabilities. A tourist could listen in on cockpit conversation, talk to another tourist, or choose to listen to their favorite songs. Silence in space will be paramount, and Tai promised there would not be a single motor running once in space.

Pictures and video will be taken of tourists so that they can bring a part of the trip home, and the entire experience will focus on them, as the only mission is that they have fun.

Spaceport America in New Mexico will be Virgin Galactic's home, though they expect to be operating in the Mojave until its completion in 2010.

"We've got the top designers in the world building an outstanding experience." says Tai. While Spaceport America will be Virgin Galactic's home in the US, the team is also looking at locations worldwide, ranging from Sweden to France.

Virgin Galactic also wants to be the first to fly through an Aurora Borealis at the North Pole. SpaceShipTwo is likely to be unveiled at the beginning of 2008, and Tai says it may make it to Oshkosh next year. Test flights are planned for 2008 as well, with the first commercial flights beginning in 2009 or 2010.

As ANN reported, Virgin Galactic has worked with Burt Rutan to create the SpaceShip Company, which will be building five spaceships for Virgin, with an option for seven more. Tai has chosen three pilots -- in addition to himself -- for the initial commercial operations, and plans to use the seasoned crews of Virgin Airlines aircraft as a possible source of pilots in the future, since the plan is to fly to space twice a day.

Financially, the future of Virgin Galactic looks bright. With only one full-time salesperson, Virgin Galactic has already acquired $25,000,000 in deposits. The space-travel company claims there are 80,000 registrants on their website, and they have yet to spend money on advertising.

Cleary, there is some interest in privatized spaceflight... and as Tai says, "this is a world-wide endeavor."

FMI: www.virgingalactic.com