Virgin Galactic showed the ship for space tourists

The company Virgin Galactic the first time publicly demonstrated the ship for space tourists called Spaceshiptwo, reports Associated Press. Reported that the first test flights will begin as early as 2010. Full-trips at altitudes up to 110 kilometers will begin no earlier than 2011.

The new spacecraft, whose length exceeds 18 meters, built of lightweight composite materials. On board the aircraft can be up to eight people: six passengers and two pilots. Also emphasizes that Spaceshiptwo much more windows than in the prototype Spaceshipone. Some of them are directly above the heads of passengers.

Ship Spaceshiptwo was first introduced in New York in January 2008. Reported that the aircraft carrier Whiteknighttwo pidnimatyme aircraft at a height of approximately 16 kilometers. Then will otstykovka ship and follow the road Spaceshiptwo overcome samostoyateln about.

The development of spacecraft funded British businessman Richard Branson, who is also the founder of Virgin Galactic. Spaceshiptwo responsible for creating aircraft Rutana Bert (Burt Rutan). On the construction of five ships and aircraft carriers, the company plans to spend over 400 million dollars.

Ticket price for a tourist of 200 thousand dollars. Run Spaceshiptwo be made from the cosmodrome in New Meksikoi. Duration will be two and a half hours, with more than five minutes, passengers will spend in weightlessness.

The first test flight of the aircraft carrier Whiteknighttwo, which lasted approximately one hour, in December 2008. Weight with two aircraft fuselage is 13 tons, and wingspan - 43 feet.