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Virgin Galactic is the world’s first spaceline
Virgin’s vast experience combined with the unique technology will ensure an unforgettable experience unlike any other available
By: Angela Cobban
On February 22, 2007, it was announced that Virgin Galactic, spearheaded by Sir Richard Branson, and NASA will collaborate in future manned space technology.
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NASA will allow Virgin Galactic the use of its facilities at the NASA Ames Research Centre in California.
Virgin Galactic has signed a host of important partnerships. On January 29 it signed with Spaceport Sweden to allow flights from a European base. It might now be possible to fly into the Aurora Borealis (The Northern Lights).
"Spaceport Sweden is very interesting for us thanks to its expertise in space technology and innovative thinking, as well as the fact that Kiruna can offer unique experiences such as the northern lights and the ICEHOTEL during winter and the midnight sun during summer" said Will Whitehorn, long-time friend of Branson and President of Virgin Galactic.
Virgin Galactic has already signed its first Swedish customer who will become Sweden’s second astronaut, first space tourist and potentially the first Swede flying into space from Swedish ground. Bengt Söderqvist, born in 1938 in Tvärskog, a small village near Kalmar in southern Sweden, has lived on Turks and Caicos for the last 40 years.
Matthew Upchurch, CEO of Virtuoso - first and only consultants in North America allowed to reserve seats aboard Virgin Galactic’s suborbital space flights - says it’s about making dreams a reality and for many, especially Baby Boomers who were impressionable children when man first walked on the moon, going to space is the ultimate dream come-true. By becoming ‘Accredited
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Space Agents’, Virtuoso consultants will continue to set themselves apart, reinforcing their position as innovators in the life experience business and living up to Virtuoso's slogan: "We Orchestrate Dreams.” www.virtuoso.com
The first purpose built commercial spaceport, meanwhile, is currently being developed in New Mexico. Spaceport America in New Mexico will be Virgin's world headquarters and primary operating base. The spacecraft will be piggybacked to a height of 60,000 ft and then let loose, to rush half-way round the world in 30 minutes.
Richard Branson says the first Virgin Galactic flight, scheduled for 2009, will have him onboard, plus his parents, wife and kids Holly, by then 25, and Sam, who will be 23. Branson says he has hopes that Sam, currently spending a little bit of time modelling for Burberry, could eventually take over his empire, although he intends to continue until he drops. One remaining ambition is to get his hands on bmi, whose short haul network would be a perfect fit for Virgin's long haul routes. www.virgingalactic.com
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