VIRGIN GALACTIC AIMS TO MAKE COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS INTO SPACE
Virgin Galactic, founded in England in 2004 by British entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, introduced the interior design of the 6-passenger cabin. Designed in collaboration with London design agency Seymourpowell, space shuttle Virgin Galactic announced that it aims to make regular commercial flights into space.
"This cabin is specially designed to ensure that thousands of people like you and me can safely realize their space flight dream," said company owner Richard Branson. Officials stated that people who want to go to space will be given astronaut training, while the amount to be paid per person will be 250 thousand dollars when commercial flights to space are opened.
Live flight data will be displayed with personal seat-back displays in Virgin Galactic's design. At the same time, thanks to 12 large windows in the space shuttle, comfortable viewing area is provided for each passenger in the cabin, while 16 cameras in the shuttle will record the passengers' experiences.
George Whitesides stated that Virgin Galactic, who plans to attend the first commercial space flight this year, has delayed his flight due to the new type of corona virus (Covid-19) epidemic, and his expectations will end soon. "There will be only 2 pilots to do a system check on our next flight, and then there will be 4 more in the back. We haven't yet shared how many flights these tests will be because we have to see how it went first. But we can proceed pretty quickly," Whitesides said.
Whitesides stated that these tests will lay the groundwork for Virgin Galactic to offer its commercial service, and that flights will begin commercial service from now on."This is going to be the most amazing cabin ever to fly in space. We've got this amazing mirror in the back of the cabin. I think that's going to be one of the coolest things because people will have the experience of being able to see themselves in space.",
said Whitesides.
Holding a commercial operating license from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, Virgin Galactic aims to organize space flights from New Mexico Spaceport America in the United States, the world's first special-purpose commercial space port.