Virgin Galactic unveils new spaceship 16 months after deadly crash

Testing will show if SpaceShipTwo is capable of safely performing its maiden voyages – many of which have already been booked.

“Clearly, champagne would be inappropriate, [although] it never did me any harm, and certainly hasn’t done my wife any harm, so do we have any milk?” asked Branson, who soon after watched on as Eva-Deia, helped by her mother and father, smashed the milk bottle across the nose of the newly-named spaceship. The ceremony also included a video congratulations from Nobel Peace Prize victor Malala Yousafzai emphasizing the importance of space to science and technical education.

Yes, we heard the same thing eight years ago from Virgin Galactic, which is still pushing to become the world’s first space tourism company.

Under construction for four years, the VSS Unity succeeds and replaces Virgin Galactic’s original SpaceShipTwo, the “VSS Enterprise”, which was rolled out in December 2009 and was destroyed during a fatal accident in 2014. It was towed into a hanger by a white Range Rover SUV, with Branson standing in the sunroof and waving.

The new vehicle’s build process kicked off in 2012 with each component part undergoing rigorous testing before assembly.

Assuming there are no major problems along the way, Virgin Galactic hopes that SpaceShip Two will be the first of its crafts to take paying passengers into space. The flight experience will feature an air launch followed by a rocket-powered ascent at three and a half times the speed of sound, the silence of space, several minutes of out-of-seat weightlessness and views of earth.

Among the steps include a flight with VSS Unity attached to WhiteKnight Two, the “carry” vehicle that takes the ship into the air and acts as a launching platform.

Mark Cameron, global brand experience director at Land Rover, said: “This is a significant milestone for Virgin Galactic, and we are proud to be part of it”.

During the official unveiling of the craft, the mood at the Virgin Galactic base was quite buoyant.

“Our attractive new spaceship, VSS Unity, is the embodiment of that goal and also a great testament to what can be achieved when true teamwork, great skill and deep pride are combined with a common objective”, Branson remarked in a press release.

Sir Richard said: “Together, we can make space accessible in a way that has only been dreamt of before now, and by doing so can bring positive change to life on earth”.

The Spaceship Company President Doug Shane said: “Building a talented team for our assembly facility in Mojave is perhaps what I take the most pride in”.

Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides acknowledged that the crash had been a “tough day” that led to a period of hard reflection, but in its aftermath the team remained determined to fulfil the Virgin Galactic mission.