The deal between Virgin Galactic and the US Federal Aviation
Authority marks a major step for commercial space travel with flights
set to go on sale by the end of 2014.
The agreement lays
out rules how the space flights will be integrated into US air space
making a safe flight zone for Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo.
"Our
team is working hard to begin routine and affordable space launches
from Spaceport America and this agreement brings us another step closer
to that goal," said Virgin Galactic CEO George Whitesides.
Virgin
Galactic plans to start commercial flights by the end of 2014 with
already more than 600 people having paid out $250,000 each for a seat on
the first space flights.
Richard Branson co-owns Virgin
Galactic with Abu Dhabi's Aabar Investments, and says his family will
be the first few to step foot onto the SpaceShipTwo.
Virgin Galactic’s news came shortly before Elon Musk’s SpaceX unveiled its Dragon V2 spacecraft at an event in California.
Source: Virgin Galactic
Monday, June 02, 2014
Virgin Galactic space flights have been cleared for take off
9:05 AM
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