An $8 million production center for commercial space crafts was finished in California's Mojave Desert. The center is anticipated to begin work on manufacturing a number of spaceships right at the end of Sept. Some 200 people will be employed by the center.
All the spaceships that will be required
The 68,000-square-foot Final Assembly, Integration and Test Hanger, or FAITH, center belongs to The Spacecraft Company, a joint venture between Scaled Composites, of California, and Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic. To be able to allow commercial space travel, a number of SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnight space vehicles will be built with the company.
No date has been announced for when those flights will start, but it is expected they will launch from a site in Brand new Mexico.
The space vehicle called SpaceShipTwo
The SpaceShipTwo craft is located on a prototype, SpaceShipOne, designed by Burt Rutan. The craft did so well that it won a prize. The $10 million Ansari X-Prize was given for it. It was the first privately financed craft to get out of the Earth’s atmosphere in 2004.
SpaceShipTwo, however, has yet to be tested in a powered flight. At this point, all tests on the craft have been unpowered glider flights. Later this year, the key powered tests will occur.
Monday’s open house
The center was officially christened on Monday with a reception and tour of the center. It was a large event. In fact, there were several public officials and reporters in attendance.
While there, Richard Branson said:
Going to space will not cost too much
Affordable is all relative. The LA Times spoke with Virgin Galactic’s CEO, George Whitesides, who said that about $200,000 per ticket could be spent for space travelers. Whitesides explained that there are already over 400 people that have put down deposits on tickets in the future.
There's a chance that the price could drop. The industry will become more competitive with more people trying out the business.
Articles cited
News About Space: http://www.news-about-space.org/space-exploration-news/cluster11414031/
KKTV: http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/California_Desert_Spaceship_Factory_Completed_130199423.html
Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/20/space-tourism-california_n_971741.html
All the spaceships that will be required
The 68,000-square-foot Final Assembly, Integration and Test Hanger, or FAITH, center belongs to The Spacecraft Company, a joint venture between Scaled Composites, of California, and Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic. To be able to allow commercial space travel, a number of SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnight space vehicles will be built with the company.
No date has been announced for when those flights will start, but it is expected they will launch from a site in Brand new Mexico.
The space vehicle called SpaceShipTwo
The SpaceShipTwo craft is located on a prototype, SpaceShipOne, designed by Burt Rutan. The craft did so well that it won a prize. The $10 million Ansari X-Prize was given for it. It was the first privately financed craft to get out of the Earth’s atmosphere in 2004.
SpaceShipTwo, however, has yet to be tested in a powered flight. At this point, all tests on the craft have been unpowered glider flights. Later this year, the key powered tests will occur.
Monday’s open house
The center was officially christened on Monday with a reception and tour of the center. It was a large event. In fact, there were several public officials and reporters in attendance.
While there, Richard Branson said:
"We're extremely proud of the new FAITH building, which is the world's first facility dedicated to producing private, commercial manned space vehicles. From this hangar, the talented team at The Spaceship Company will be at the forefront of making space access safe, reliable and affordable."
Going to space will not cost too much
Affordable is all relative. The LA Times spoke with Virgin Galactic’s CEO, George Whitesides, who said that about $200,000 per ticket could be spent for space travelers. Whitesides explained that there are already over 400 people that have put down deposits on tickets in the future.
There's a chance that the price could drop. The industry will become more competitive with more people trying out the business.
Articles cited
News About Space: http://www.news-about-space.org/space-exploration-news/cluster11414031/
KKTV: http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/California_Desert_Spaceship_Factory_Completed_130199423.html
Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/20/space-tourism-california_n_971741.html
