Virgin Galactic, Richard Branson’s commercial spaceflight company, opened its Spaceport America in New Mexico this week. It is from here that Virgin Galactic expects to begin commercial space tourism flights in 2020.
Officially named “Gaia,” The spaceport’s color scheme reflects the desert landscape surrounding Spaceport America. According to Virgin Galactic representatives: "The Earth-focused design will provide a fitting welcome to those newly graduated astronauts returning from space with a new appreciation and understanding of our home planet."
Virgin Galactic’s space flight vehicles include the WhiteKnightTwo launch vehicle and the six-passenger SpaceShipTwo space plane. The WhiteKnightTwo, carrying SpaceShipTwo will take off from a runway much like a traditional airplane and climb to 50,000 feet. There, SpaceShipTwo will be released, ignite its engine and climb into space, where its six passengers will experience weightlessness and view the curvature of the earth against a black background. The spaceship will then glide back to earth to land at the spaceport.
A ticket to ride will cost $250,000, and Virgin Galactic has more than 600 deposits for tickets.