PRESS RELEASE

Virgin Galactics

DRAFT 2

SpaceShipTwo Aims to
Bring Space Closer to Earth

Test Flight a Smashing Success for New VSS Unity Spacecraft

TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, New Mexico - April 19, 2016 - Today, Virgin Galactic
(http://VirginGalactic.com) had a successful test flight into space of their SpaceShipTwo,
recently dubbed VSS Unity by Professor Stephen Hawking. This flight, the first since the
October 2014 loss of the original SpaceShipTwo, brings closer the goal of the democratization of
space travel.
See why we go: http://www.virgingalactic.com/why-we-go/.
This launch was successful because of the dedication and sacrifices of many people from
diverse backgrounds, said Sir Branson after the launch. It is another huge leap forward in the
goal of democratizing space. Truly, VSS Unity and our other spacecraft bring space exploration
within reach of the common man.
Once testing is complete, passengers will be taken aboard SpaceShipTwo and experience:
The silence of space
Breathtaking views of earth and of space
Out-of-seat weightlessness
The design for SpaceShipTwo comes from an earlier concept called SpaceShipOne by Burt
Rutan that won the 2004 X-PRIZE. It carries eight people total: two pilots and six passengers.
The ship is air launched, meaning it is carried up to ~50,000 ft before being released, after which
rocket boosters propel the ship at three and a half times the speed of sound into suborbital space.
The goal of opening up space to all people must follow the priority of safety for those people.
Understanding the risks of space, The Spaceship Company President Doug Shane assures that
each part of VSS Unity was tested and checked many multiple times for structural integrity and
safety.
I have always dreamed of space flight, but for so many years, I thought it was just that: a
dream, said Professor Stephen Hawking in a recorded interview. Confined to earth and in a
wheelchair, how could I experience the majesty of space except through imagination and my
work in theoretical physics? Richard Branson made it his mission to make spaceflight a
reality for those intrepid enough to venture beyond the boundaries of the earths atmosphere.
More information about Virgin Galactic can be found at http://VirginGalactic.com
Additional Resources:
Images and Videos: http://www.image.net/virgingalactic
More

Updates: http://www.virgingalactic.com/updates/
Partners: http://www.virgingalactic.com/partners/
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About Virgin Galactic: Virgin Galactic was founded in 2004 and is a member of Virgin Group,
founded by Sir Richard Branson. It is jointly owned by Sir Richard Branson and Abu Dhabis
Aabar Investments PJS. With operations based in New Mexico, they seek to commercialize
space.
For more information, contact:
Aaron Murdock
Telephone: 801-755-7847
Email: aapmurdock@gmail.com