It looks like the Mojave Desert is once again the center of the private space industry, with Richard Branson and crew on hand to unveil Virgin Galactic’s WhiteKnightTwo spaceship carrier as promised. This craft (only the first of more that are promised) has been named EVE (after Branson’s mother) and, with a 140-foot wingspan, it’s apparently now officially the largest all carbon-composite aircraft ever made. Eventually, it’ll be used to help carry the the yet-to-be-completed SpaceShipTwo craft in orbit although, as Burt Rutan himself tells Space.com, that’s still a little ways off…
It has to do a lot of test flights – at least 40 – but I’m already excited. This is what private industry can do: They don’t just build spacecraft, they make them beautiful too.
Take a look at this gallery of photos and illustrations.
July 30th, 2008 - 2:18 pm
I wouldn’t worry about beautiful. Some of the best made machines are the ugliest… perhaps the best advantage of the SpaceShipOne/Two is it’s not designed by congress like the space camel. Ooops. I mean space shuttle.
July 30th, 2008 - 5:38 pm
That’s true but I’m still impressed when designers/engineers can make something work and make it beautiful too.
July 31st, 2008 - 4:07 am
On the other hand… If something works well and is simple, to the right person, it *will* be beautiful. I submit the A-10 Thunderbolt, the modern hard drive, AC induction motor, and the last 30 years of B&S lawnmower engines as examples.