Scaled Composites to unveil the SpaceShipTwo on January 23rd?

It's been just a few months since a test of an experimental motor for Scaled Composites' SpaceShipTwo passenger space vehicles caused a deadly explosion at the company's Mojave Desert facility, but we're hearing whispers today that the craft will be unveiled on January 23rd, along with the WhiteKnightTwo carrier plane. Testing of the six-person ship will apparently start in mid-2008, with the first commercial Virgin Galactic flight tentatively scheduled for the end of 2009. That seems hopelessly optimistic to us, but then again, we're not ones to doubt the awesome combined powers of Burt Rutan and Richard Branson.

[Vanillacide @ Jan 4th 2008 6:13AM]

Same as here, can't wait to get onboard.

Hopefully it will be more like Virgin Atlantic, my favorite airline, and less like Virgin Trains. :O)

[jfoust @ Jan 4th 2008 6:53AM]

There's no need to whisper: Virgin Galactic's plans to unveil the SS2 and WK2 designs have been known for weeks:

http://www.personalspaceflight.info/2007/12/07/2008-year-of-the-spaceship/
http://www.personalspaceflight.info/2007/12/21/more-on-virgins-upcoming-plans/

Also note that what Virgin will reportedly be unveiling are the designs for the two vehicles, not actual flight hardware: among other issues, it would be tough to fit an aircraft the size of White Knight 2 into the American Museum for Natural History...

[Sam W @ Jan 4th 2008 10:16AM]

I personally cant wait to see the final designs of it. i just hope they can fly it to EAA Oshkosh this summer like originally hoped, if not next year i guess. When SpaceShipOne was there it was so amazing, the crowds never left.

[Fernando G. @ Jan 4th 2008 8:17AM]

two passenger? wont be long till the mile high club means nothing

[Sam W @ Jan 4th 2008 10:13AM]

SpaceShipTwo is 6 person not 2.

[kevjohn @ Jan 4th 2008 11:00AM]

Mommy, what is that boy spaceplane doing to that girl spaceplane?

[strider_mt2k @ Jan 4th 2008 11:04AM]

GO FOLKS GO!
All the best to 'em!!

[Christian @ Jan 4th 2008 4:08PM]

Is it just me or that pic looked very wrong... like two planes humping each other....

[Murc @ Jan 4th 2008 8:20PM]

...its just you.

the "carrier" plane uses its jet engines to go up to like 40,000 feet, then it drops the space plane so it can fire up its rocket and head towards the black sky.

[granny down east @ Jan 5th 2008 11:01PM]

Ah, aeronautical devices are the ultimate gadgets...until transporters are functional.
I sure like me some airplanes.