Page 2 - Aerotech News and Review, April 2, 2021

Virgin Galactic unveils VSS Imagine, the

first SpaceShip III in its growing fleet Reader’s

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Virgin Galactic photograph
Virgin Galactic unveiled its third generation spacecraft, the VSS Imagine, on March 30, 2021, at Spaceport America in New Mexico. Web Site
Access the Aerotech News web
On March 30, Virgin Galactic unveiled the ror-like material, reflects the surrounding environ- Future Astronauts are invited to be part of every site at www.aerotechnews.com
newest addition to its growing fleet. ment, constantly changing color and appearance step along the Virgin Galactic journey. One of Submissions for upcoming events, air
VSS Imagine is the company’s second piloted as it travels from earth to sky to space. Along with Virgin Galactic’s Future Astronauts, Dee Chester, shows and museums
space plane, and is the first of its next-generation providing thermal protection, this dynamic mate- had a unique opportunity to play her part in the should be emailed to
SapceShip III class. rial is naturally appealing to the human eye, re- rollout of VSS Imagine, as her Astronaut Edition editor@aerotechnews.com.
Imagine will start ground testing, with glide flecting our inherent human fascination with space Range Rover towed the new spaceship out of the
flights planned for this summer from Spaceport and the transformative experience of spaceflight. For questions concerning the web site,
America in New Mexico. In the meantime, VSS Leveraging a modular design, the SpaceShip hangar for the first time. contact the webmaster at
Unity continues final development testing with its III class of vehicles are built to enable improved “Virgin Galactic spaceships are built specifi- webmaster@aerotechnews.com.
next spaceflight scheduled for May. performance in terms of maintenance access and cally to deliver a new, transforming perspective to
Michael Colglazier, CEO of Virgin Galactic, flight rate. This third generation of spaceship will the thousands of people who will soon be able to
said, “Today we unveiled our SpaceShip III class lay the foundation for the design and manufacture experience the wonder of space for themselves,” Where you can get
of vehicles, marking the beginning of the Virgin of future vehicles. said Richard Branson, Virgin Galactic founder. Aerotech News and Review
Galactic fleet. VSS Imagine and Inspire are stun- As VSS Imagine begins ground testing, manu- “As a SpaceShip III class of vehicle, Imagine is For information on
ning ships that will take our future astronauts on facturing will progress on VSS Inspire, the second not just beautiful to look at, but represents Virgin Aerotech distribution, call
an incredible voyage to space, and their names SpaceShip III vehicle within the Virgin Galactic Galactic’s growing fleet of spaceships. All great (661) 945-5634 or visit
reflect the aspirational nature of human space- achievements, creations and changes start with an www.aerotechnews.com/distribution.
flight,” he said. “Congratulations to our dedicated fleet. The introduction of the Spaceship III class idea. Our hope is for all those who travel to space
of vehicles is an important milestone in Virgin
team who worked so brilliantly to achieve this
milestone.” Galactic’s multi-year effort that targets flying 400 to return with fresh perspectives and new ideas
VSS Imagine is the third spacecraft built by the flights per year, per spaceport. that will bring positive change to our planet.” Aerotech News and Review is published
company — VSS Enterprise every other Friday, serving the
was destroyed in a flight test aerospace and defense industry of
accident in 2014. Colglazier Southern California, Nevada and
said Imagine “has been de- Arizona. News and ad copy deadline
signed in a way that’s taken is noon on the Tuesday prior to
the learnings we’ve had from publication. The publisher assumes no
all the flight testing on Unity. responsibility for error in ads other
“That allows us to access than space used. Your comments are
things in the right way — we welcomed and encouraged. Write to
know what things need to be the address below.
tackled on a routine basis, so
that we can give people easy
access,” Colglazier said. • Publisher ....................Paul Kinison
Unity and Imagine are two- • Business Manager ....... Lisa Kinison
pilot, six-passenger spacecraft • Editor .................... Stuart Ibberson
that are designed to launch • National Advertising
from beneath the wings of a Manager .....................Paul Kinison
carrier aircraft at an altitude
of about 50,000 feet. Once
launched, the spacecraft’s Aerotech News and Review
onboard rocket motor lights
up, blasting it into suborbital e-mail: editor@aerotechnews.com
space. Virgin Galactic Visit our web site at
VSS Imagine livery design, VSS Imagine sits on the flightline at Spaceport America in New Mexico. www.aerotechnews.com
finished entirely with a mir-

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