Science and Payload Missions

Abstract

Alan is almost certainly right. Once revenue flights start, there will be a lot of fuss about celebrities rocketing into space. But, as discussed in the previous chapter, there is a limited supply of Lady Gagas, so what happens when Virgin Galactic has flown its manifest of the rich and famous? Well, space-tourism jaunts will still be flown, but the major source of revenue for Branson’s suborbital operation will likely come from science and payload flights. After all, the same unique and cutting-edge design that makes SpaceShipTwo the perfect spaceship to carry the Ashton Kutchers of this world to the edge of space also make it an appealing research platform perfectly suited for scientists and engineers. The large volume and payload capacity, altitude, and flight rate of SpaceShipTwo allow Virgin Galactic to offer a unique platform for technology development in space.