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Virgin Galactic Reveals New Spaceship

Let's talk about space now. In 2014, Virgin Galactic had a major setback trying to go into space, when its spaceship was accidently destroyed. Now, the company is anxious to try and launch a new one. This week the company unveiled its new commercial spaceship.

Rachel Crane gives us a preview of Virgin Galactic's "out of this world" plans.


  --REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS--
(music)
(Dave Mackay/ Virgin Galactic Chief Pilot)
"This is the vehicle that is going to take many hundreds of regular people into space for the first time."
RICHARD BRANSON'S VIRGIN GALACTIC WANTS TO BE THE WORLD'S FIRST COMMERCIAL SPACE LINE.
THAT IS, THE FIRST COMPANY TO TAKE REGULAR PEOPLE INTO SPACE, ON A REGULAR BASIS.  
AND THIS IS THE SPACESHIP THEY SAY COULD DO IT
(Rachel Crane/CNN Correspondent)
"Spaceship-Two Serial-two was constructed here in the Mojave Desert in this secretive hangar."
(Dave Mackay/ Virgin Galactic Chief Pilot)
"We're really looking forward to getting it into the, into the air where it belongs, and then eventually into space."
(nats -- Mackay)
"Head back and we're accelerating."
DAVE MACKAY IS VIRGIN GALACTIC'S CHIEF PILOT
HE'S BEEN TRAINING INSIDE THIS SIMULANEWTOR HUNDREDS OF TIMES -- WAITING FOR A REAL SPACECRAFT  TO FLY AGAIN.
(Dave Mackay/ Virgin Galactic Chief Pilot)
"After rollout we expect in the next couple of months to be in flight test.  And of course that's hugely significant."
THAT'S BECAUSE VIRGIN GALACTIC HAS NOT HAD A VEHICLE SINCE A TRAGIC ACCIDENT IN 20-14 LEFT ITS SPACESHIP IN PIECES, AND KILLED ONE TEST PILOT.
(nats - Richard Branson)
"We're going to learn from what went wrong."
THE N-T-S-B RULED THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT TO BE HUMAN ERROR
(nats - construction)
SPACESHIP-TWO, SERIAL-TWO WAS ALREADY IN DEVELOPMENT AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH…
BUT NOT NEARLY READY TO SERVE AS A REPLACEMENT.
(George T. Whitesides/ Virgin Galactic CEO and President)
"When we began this journey, we knew that it would be hard. And it has been hard. //George: The number one thing is that we're going to test fly this vehicle. we're going to test fly spaceship 2 and we're going to make sure we understand what happened."
VIRGIN GALACTIC HAS MADE SEVERAL UPDATES TO ITS NEW AND IMPROVED SPACECRAFT
(Dave Mackay/ Virgin Galactic Chief Pilot)
"The actual accident itself was caused by a control being moved when it -- shouldn't have been done.  And we've implemented a new system, which prevents that ever happening again."  
(nats - construction)
BUT BUILDING THE SPACESHIP AND ADDING THOSE NEW FEATURES HAS TAKEN TIME.
SPACESHIP TWO, SERIAL TWO HAS BEEN UNDER CONSTRUCTION FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS.
(George T. Whitesides/ Virgin Galactic CEO and President)
"I believe that the future of this vehicle will be powerful to the future of humanity."
(nats - countdown)
"Two, one. Release release."
THIS IS HOW IT WORKS: THE MOTHERSHIP, WHITE KNIGHT TWO, CARRIES THE SPACESHIP 50-THOUSAND FEET INTO THE AIR.
THEN IT SEPARATES AND BLASTS OFF AT MORE THAN THREE TIMES THE SPEED OF SOUND...
REACHING BETWEEN 50 AND 62 MILES ABOVE EARTH.
THE SIX PASSENGERS ONBOARD WILL EXPERIENCE ABOUT 6 MINUTES OF WEIGHTLESSNESS
(nats - Mackay)
"And at this point, or very shortly we're gonna allow the,  the customer's to unstrap.  And they can float around.
MORE THAN 700 CUSTOMERS HAVE ALREADY PAID 250-THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR A SEAT WHEN VIRGIN GALACTIC EVENTUALLY STARTS COMMERCIAL OPERATION.
(Dave Mackay/ Virgin Galactic Chief Pilot)
"It's a sensational experience of course. But -- it's more important than that. It's a first step in -- opening up space to the-- the wider population of the world."

Instructional Links

Website: Virgin Atlantic

http://www.virgingalactic.com/