Virgin Galactic: White Knight flies again

Wow'd 'em in Oshkosh

Richard Branson’s new “mothership” which will carry SpaceShipTwo—and paying space tourists—into sub-orbital space—made an appearance at an Oshkosh, Wisconsin airshow. Branson is head of the private space tourism company, Virgin Galactic, which operates WhiteKnightTwo.

After making a couple of passes over the crowd, the aircraft made a smooth and quiet landing on runway 18. This was a better performance than a landing back in April, when the WhiteKnightTwo suffered minor damage during a test landing.

Investors take notice

Meanwhile, an Abu Dhabi company bought a stake in Branson’s company for $280 million.That will give the company, Aabar Investments, a 32% stake in Virgin. Aabar also plans to invest an additional $100 million into the space firm to help it develop a satellite launching service. (This service would used unmanned rockets, not the craft slated for private sub-orbital tourist flights.)

First passenger flights?

No date has been set for Virgin Galactic’s first passenger flights, but Branson plans to take a trip with his parents and children first—before the first paying customers get a ride. The actual passenger craft, SpaceShipTwo, is scheduled to be rolled out in December.

Paying passengers will (someday) ride SpaceShipTwo into sub-orbital space for $200 thousand a trip. More than 300 people have reserved their seats.