SpaceShipTwo, White Knight Two designs unveiled: aren't they cute?

As expected, Sir Richard Branson has just unveiled the final designs of SpaceShipTwo and White Knight Two, Virgin Galactic's planned commercial "spaceliner" and its corresponding carrier plane. At today's American Museum of Natural History launch event, Branson once again reiterated his lofty expectations for space tech in general and the six-passenger vehicle in particular, promising to promote privatization and more widespread research by offering outside organizations access to its launch system schematics. So far, Virgin has reportedly signed up 200 committed passengers willing to pay $200,000 for a 2010-or-later suborbital flight, but for now, all they can do is look at the pretty pictures in the gallery below.

Gallery: SpaceShipTwo, White Knight Two designs unveiled

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[athousandleaves @ Jan 23rd 2008 4:25PM]

Is Branson ever going to get a real job?

[anonymouspimp @ Jan 23rd 2008 4:34PM]

I wish I had his fake job.

[RAINMAN @ Jan 23rd 2008 4:39PM]

I second that

[Dave @ Jan 23rd 2008 4:53PM]

Sir Richard Branson is a total legend. He has all the money in the world and he's using his time/effort/influence to push back the boundaries of science/technology.

Wealthy people who spend waste their lives in pimped mansions with gold taps and a million flat screen TVs could learn a thing or two from this guy.

[tcc3 @ Jan 23rd 2008 4:59PM]

He's like JD Harriman from Heinlein. He sees the potential and the value of private enterprise in space and is willing to spend his own vast fortune to further it.

Its nice to be able to afford your dreams. When your dreams can benefit mankind its especially wonderful.

[Fruition @ Jan 23rd 2008 7:10PM]

He could be Batman!

[Hung @ Jan 23rd 2008 9:54PM]

@ Dave & tcc3

Oh, come on! He bought a fucking island as his house? I'm pretty sure it cost over $20 mil (à la MTV: Cribs) to build and maintain. Besides, he's worth over $20 billion. What can't you do with $20 billion?


@ Fruition

He doesn't even have any super powers. Power Puff Girls for the win.

[Fruition @ Jan 24th 2008 7:53AM]

Bruce Wayne doesn't have super powers either. He's just really rich and he uses his wealth to design kickass gadgets to fight crime.

Same thing goes for Tony Stark (Ironman).

[Hung @ Jan 24th 2008 5:43PM]

Yeah, it's pretty obvious that Branson doesn't have any powers. I was talking about Batman.

But atleast Ironman has the semblance of powers. I remember seeing one episode of Justice League some years back of Superman and Batman fighting. What the L?

[CharlieX @ Jan 23rd 2008 4:36PM]

That design is rubbish. You need a really large giant to pick it up and throw it into space apparently.

[AdamY @ Jan 23rd 2008 4:39PM]

Thankfully, as you can see from the photograph, they have constructed a really large giant Richard Branson to do precisely that.

[emjoi @ Jan 23rd 2008 7:55PM]

But not a really large cute Korean woman.

[Fubar @ Jan 23rd 2008 8:46PM]

I, for one, welcome our loopy British overlords.

[jamma @ Jan 23rd 2008 4:41PM]

Picture 5 looks cool, i've always wondered what the Haze helmet would be like to wear.

Still, disappointingly, they haven't even mentioned WiFi

[Xee @ Jan 23rd 2008 5:11PM]

Haha. I can just see you now, floating in zero-g, the earth stretching out below you, pouting because you can't check your email.

[jamma @ Jan 23rd 2008 6:00PM]

Yes, well, WiFi is important for me, i might get outbid on 700MHz and will need to keep checking my eBay

[emjoi @ Jan 23rd 2008 7:58PM]

A weird picture... the Spaceperson is having a Spacebaby.

[Electromodo @ Jan 23rd 2008 4:44PM]

Give this guy a credit. He could as well enjoy his life and spend millions he earned before, but instead he decided to invest in Science and push technology to space.

Also, he is doing a right thing. If he launches his ship, Virgin Galactic will be the dominating space company in future. At least it will be in History textbooks.

[Rae @ Jan 23rd 2008 4:45PM]

that sounds scary.....whats next?? a death star?

[ZippO @ Jan 23rd 2008 4:48PM]

it's an evil plan to conquer the universe!!!!

[Reader @ Jan 23rd 2008 6:49PM]

I just hope the first tourist flight doesn't go awry and gets everyone killed. Will be near impossible to get a civilian craft back up in space once all the naysayers get proof it's a bad idea.

[Hung @ Jan 23rd 2008 9:56PM]

HE HAS $20 BILLION. I don't think he's pinching pennies and allocating his resources into altruism. If he were, Necker Island would be on eBay by now. I'm not bashing Sir Richard Branson, but don't give credit where credit isn't due.

[Electromodo @ Jan 23rd 2008 4:44PM]

Give this guy a credit. He could as well enjoy his life and spend millions he earned before, but instead he decided to invest in Science and push technology to space.

Also, he is doing a right thing. If he launches his ship, Virgin Galactic will be the dominating space company in future. At least it will be in History textbooks.

[Electromodo @ Jan 23rd 2008 4:45PM]

Engadget, do something about double posts! Or at least fix the bugs in forum app!

[OneLove @ Jan 23rd 2008 4:49PM]

Is he just going to keep connecting planes together? lol.

[wrigley @ Jan 23rd 2008 4:50PM]

Is it just me or did they forget landing gear???

[chadow @ Jan 23rd 2008 4:55PM]

Its just you

[jamma @ Jan 23rd 2008 4:55PM]

Not just landing gear, where in the world is can you find three runways right next to each other?

[Jordan Job @ Jan 23rd 2008 8:14PM]

You mean like Spaceport America?

[kjb434 @ Jan 23rd 2008 5:03PM]

The have to get it up before considering a landing gear.

The only reason he does this any of his crazy ideas is because he realized after making all this money he is still not better than the average joe. He's going for legacy and to get his name in history books. As long as it is his money and not my tax dollars, he can spend away.

[JuggleNuts @ Jan 23rd 2008 5:15PM]

So what rich bastard is going to spend $1.2 million to rent out the whole shebang and be the first dude to have 6-minute space sex?

[octoberasian @ Jan 23rd 2008 8:35PM]

Kinda reminds me of the Domino's pizza commercial: "What will you do with your 30 minutes?"

In one commercial, the wife tells the husband: "What about the other 2 minutes?"

Now imagine them in Space Ship Two with the same dilemma.

That would leave 4 minutes of free time and to your imagination. ~.^)b

[Hung @ Jan 23rd 2008 9:58PM]

Ten Thousand Mile High Club.

[Bollenator @ Jan 23rd 2008 5:16PM]

'Twould appear they do have "landing gear": the dark spot on the nose is supposedly a high-friction skidpad. You can just barely read it on the schematic image of SpaceShipTwo.

Belly-landing a multi-million-dollar spacecraft with a half-dozen people inside who have more money than sense? Sounds like Branson's doing what he can to be named richest man in the world through simple attrition... six at a time.

[JadedFuck @ Jan 23rd 2008 5:21PM]

A gazillion dollars sure buys a bitchin' model airplane...

[jetgraphics @ Jan 23rd 2008 5:23PM]

...And if they can sheathe the flyer with ceramic tiles, it would be a slick little re-entry vehicle from the International Space Station.
(Hint, hint)

[Itchy Pajamas @ Jan 23rd 2008 5:24PM]

I wish I were a girl, so I could be the stewardess on Space Ship Two!

[chase @ Jan 23rd 2008 5:26PM]

this is real progress and anyone saying anything less are just angry they may never get the chance to go to space.

It is my lifelong dream to travel into space and this guy is making it closer to a reality. He's a genius inventor and it's great to see someone w/ money putting it towards advancing the human race. This is phenomenal.

[ADG @ Jan 24th 2008 7:43AM]

Branson had nothing to do with the design of this. Try "Burt Rutan."

[Mr. S. @ Jan 23rd 2008 5:46PM]

That logo demonstrates how your eye will look when you realize that you made a huge tiny mistake right before you die in space where not even Branson can hear you scream.

[aoeu00 @ Jan 23rd 2008 7:52PM]

Sorry, but that dude looks spaced out himself!

[octoberasian @ Jan 23rd 2008 8:32PM]

The one thing I dislike about this whole spaceliner and space tourism lingo is that they are just too expensive for common people.

I look at space as being free and open; unknown and unrestricted. I don't see dollar signs or profit margins to be made, bartered, and advertised. I definitely do not want to see a for lease, for sale, or for rent sign on the moon or any other planet. And, I definitely do not want space to be left to big, money-grubbing corporations whose sole intention is make a quick buck out of it.

What ever happened to the sheer pleasure and enjoyment of exploration and discovery of unknown places?

What ever happened at using technology for the benefit of mankind and not a company's wallet?

I complete detest how the future direction of space is headed if left to private companies who have no care at a common person or what space should truly be about.

As much as I admire and applaud the work behind the Space Ship One and Space Ship Two programs, I will never agree to any form of spaceliner, space hotel, or space tourism as they are nothing more than signs of excluding space to ONLY the filthy rich or those who manage to win a multi-million dollar lottery.

[Endymion @ Jan 24th 2008 12:53AM]

Amen, brother.

[Osiris @ Jan 24th 2008 10:57AM]

Get over it.
Nothing revolutionary is going to be cheap from the start.

In the end it's a service like any other, how can expect not to pay?

[Jimmy @ Jan 24th 2008 2:25AM]

Exploration has always been about wealth, fame, legacy, money, etc... Since the beginning of time, new frontiers meant new resources for exploitation. We're only human after all.

[jamesFF @ Jan 23rd 2008 11:37PM]

Why can't NASA come up with something simple like this?

Who would spend $200,000 for just 5 minutes of space flight? If it was my money I would ask for at least 1 orbit around the earth, and a space walk.

[av8or @ Jan 23rd 2008 11:47PM]

ok, branson didn't design this, its from scaled composites, burt rutan, look it up kiddies
senior branson is only settin up the business to do the trips

[Daniel @ Jan 24th 2008 3:08AM]

@ Fruition

No, no. If Sir Richard were Batman, this would clearly be called 'Dark Knight Two'.

[Khaytsus @ Jan 28th 2008 12:31PM]

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