WHEN WILL I FLY?

Virgin Galactic expect to be the first company to provide sub-orbital flights to the general public, but do not regard themselves as being in a race. There are no absolute deadlines and they will launch only when they are happy with the results of the exhaustive test flight program. This testing is scheduled to begin during 2008 and is expected to last 12 to 18 months. The level of deposit paid will determine your flight priority and allow us to allocate you a seat number within the flight schedule. Here is the current deposit schedule:

HOW OFTEN WILL YOU FLY?

Virgin Galactic will begin flying to space one per week and will gradually increase flight frequency until they have the capacity to fly at least once daily.

How Many People Will Be on Each Flight?

There will be six passengers and two pilots.

CAN I CHOOSE WHO I FLY WITH?

Everyone will travel First Class with Virgin Galactic! Individual passenger experience is at the forefront of cabin design; each astronaut will have a window seat and there will be plenty of room for everyone to enjoy floating in zero gravity. Alternatively you can charter a flight so you have a spaceship all to yourself, or choose those who will join you. There is even a 10% discount for private spaceship charters!

WHAT DOCUMENTATION IS REQUIRED?

In order to make a reservation you will be required to sign the Virgin Galactic Deposit Terms & Conditions along with a Deposit Remittance Form. There will of course be additional documentation for you to complete before your flight such as medical questionnaires and waivers.

HOW DO I PAY?

Your deposit should be sent electronically by your bank to Virgin Galactic’s US Dollar bank account in the UK. At this time credit cards and other forms of payment are not possible but Virgin Galactic hope to be able to change this soon.

WHAT MEDICAL ISSUES COULD EXCLUDE ME?

Virgin Galactic are working on the principle of being able to fly anyone and everyone to space. They also want to make sure you don’t pose a risk to yourself or anyone else on the flight and that you are informed of the risks allowing you to make your own decision to go. They have a dedicated team of experts working on this right now. As ever the early customers will be pioneers! For now, when you make your reservation, you will be talked through the G-profile and have some of the known effects of sub-orbital spaceflight explained to you. You will then need to have a think about whether you wish to proceed with a reservation. In the months leading up to your flight, you will do some routine medical checks and may be asked to do some more unusual spaceflight training tasks. At each stage you can review whether or not you are still willing to take a flight and likewise, Virgin Galactic will decide whether they are still willing to fly you. Generally speaking, it is expected that anyone of good health and reasonable fitness should be able to participate in these spaceflights.

WHAT TRAINING WILL I HAVE TO DO?

The finer details of the training program are still being worked out, however you can expect some G-force training, lots of safety instruction and information to help you maximize every second of your flight. The training program will be an experience in itself! Early customers may have to participate in some training in the months leading up to their flight, as well as their 2 or 3 days training leading up to your flight date. The eventual aim is to ensure that all training can take place immediately prior to flight at Spaceport America.

WHERE WILL I FLY FROM?

It is most likely that you will fly from Spaceport America located near Upham in south-west New Mexico. This will be the world’s first purpose built commercial spaceport and it will become Virgin Galactic’s home. If Virgin is ready to fly before Spaceport America is ready they may start flight operations from the Mojave Spaceport/Airport in California, the site of the X-Prize flights in 2004 and the birthplace of Virgin Galactic.

WHAT DOES $200,000 INCLUDE?

Apart from the most amazing experience in your life that begins the day you make your reservation, it includes your training, your spaceflight and accommodation at the Spaceport on a full board basis. Transport to and from the experience is not included nor any costs involved in having friends and family along with you.

CAN I BRING MY FAMILY WITH ME?

Yes! A fantastic hotel is being planned specifically with your loved ones in mind. Spaceport America is also being designed as a place where non-astronauts can interact with your experience as much as possible.

IS A SUB-ORBITAL FLIGHT A REAL SPACEFLIGHT?

Yes! Virgin Galactic will fly to an altitude of 110km/68mi. The Karman Line, the internationally accepted altitude that defines where space ‘begins’ is 100km/62miles. Sub-orbital is simply the term used to describe a spaceflight trajectory that does not orbit (in this case) the Earth.

IS IT SAFE?

Virgin Galactic is well aware of the inherent risks in sub-orbital spaceflight, and would not want to portray them falsely. However, the reason Virgin decided to invest in Burt Rutan’s technology was precisely because they recognized that it represented a step change in levels of safety compared to any space vehicle or system that had gone before. This happened after a long period of Virgin reviewing and dismissing other competing vehicles, chiefly on grounds of safety. Burt Rutan’s genius for design and construction provided simple but hugely effective solutions to some of the most risky elements of space flight — in particular the launch phase and reentry into the earth’s atmosphere.

The air launch system and controllable hybrid rocket motor provides for a safe abort and glide home should any problems occur in the initial phases of the spaceship’s launch.

The unique wing feathering technology means the spaceship can come back into the atmosphere at any angle and will automatically right itself without any input from the pilots. The aerodynamically controlled descent means there is need only for minimum thermal protection and that the spaceship is immune from any problems caused by sophisticated flight control systems. Virgin also understands from long experience, what it takes to build and maintain an ingrained culture of safety in a transport operation.

ARE THERE ANY AGE RESTRICTIONS?

Virgin currently impose no upper age limit but of course regardless of age you will need to meet our minimum health and fitness requirements before Virgin Galactic can allow you to give your consent to fly. For the moment Virgin Galactic will not to take reservations from anybody under the age of 18. This is partly due to possible restrictions with legal consent and also the need to get greater clarity on any regulatory and medical restrictions.

WHAT ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT?

Virgin Galactic’s environmental mission is to change the paradigm of access to space by introducing the world’s first environmentally benign space transportation system for people payload and science. Space access and exploration is and will continue to be a key component in Virgin’s ability to manage the demands of a burgeoning global population. It also is central to their understanding, measurement and better management of the effects of climate change.

Already, much of the early evidence of the causes and effects of a warming planet has been derived from satellite technology; however the technology that still delivers payloads and people to space has a high negative environmental impact. Virgin Galactic is investing in a space access system that is radically different from what’s gone before and many, many times more environmentally friendly.

For example, the CO2 emission per passenger for a sub-orbital space trip on WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo is expected to be approximately 25% less than that per passenger on a commercial return flight from London to New York. In the development of the spacecraft and its carrier aircraft Virgin are also working on developing and incorporating suitable bio fuels which would obviously improve the situation still further. Additionally, Virgin Galactic’s New Mexico Spaceport is being designed to take all its energy requirements from renewable sources.

Virgin’s space investment, and the future technology that it inspires, will allow man to continue to reap space related environmental benefits without making an unacceptable contribution to the environmental problem.

ARE THE DEPOSITS REFUNDABLE?

Deposits are refundable up until your flight date is confirmed and you have been sent and agreed to comply with the Conditions of Carriage. Deposits are refundable after that date in certain circumstances or at Virgin Galactic’s discretion. This is explained in detail within the Deposit Terms and Conditions which we can send you on request.

HOW DO I KNOW MY DEPOSIT IS SAFE?

You can have the peace of mind that you are dealing with one of the world’s largest and most respected brands. However Virgin Galactic understand that you might need a little more reassurance so have provided a guarantee within the Deposit Terms and Conditions. This is a formal arrangement between Virgin Galactic and a large holding company within the Virgin Group which gives an added layer of security should Virgin Galactic be unable to honor its refund obligations for any reason.

WHAT ABOUT INSURANCE?

This is a brand new industry so currently there are no insurance policies out there which cover private individuals undertaking spaceflights or enable Virgin Galactic as an operator to take that cover out on your behalf. Like other adventure pursuits, it is also unlikely that any personal accident or life policies you have will cover you for the space flight. However the insurance market has already shown interest in trying to provide cover and Virgin Galactic will be working with it as they progress towards the start of commercial flights. You will be flying at your own risk but only after Virgin Galactic have told you clearly what the risks are and you have provided your consent.

WHY MAKE A RESERVATION NOW?

As unreal as it may sound to many people, seats are selling fast, meaning that the longer you wait to make a reservation, the longer you will have to wait to go to space. The first customers also enjoy the added benefit of being part of this exciting experience from its earliest days. Future astronauts are kept informed and engaged in the project, with Virgin Galactic recognizing their unique contribution to the dawning of a new space age.

All of the information we have provided is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of launch. However we hope you can appreciate that a project of this nature is subject to the odd change of detail, so keep your eye out for updates from us.