Virgin Galactic VSS Enterprise Spaceship Makes First Captive Carry Test Flight in the Mojave Desert

According to Virgin Galactic, the VSS Enterprise made its first captive carry test flight on Monday, March 22, 2010. The flight was a success, which came as no surprise to Branson and the deign team from Scaled Composites. Test flights will continue into 2011, and will be followed by independent glides, powered flight and commercial operation. Click here to read more, and to see pictures of this amazing spaceship.

The spaceship was attached to the Virgin Mothership (VMS) Eve, a carbon composite aviation vehicle named after Sir Richard Branson's mother. The mothership is the largest carbon composite flight vehicle ever built. The carbon composite material increases fuel efficiency. VMS Eve is highly maneuverable and can carry heavy payloads, reach high altitudes and fly for a long distance.

Powered by a hybrid rocket motor, the spaceship is carried and launched from the mothership, and "can be thought of as an air launched glider with a rocket motor and a couple of extra systems for spaceflight." Six passengers and two pilots will be carried into space by the 60 ft craft. The cabin is large enough for passengers to float in zero gravity. All passenger seats come with two windows, one on the side and one over head, and provide essentially the same view when passengers are seated. A smooth re-entry is facilitated by wings that fold up to help the spaceship float through the atmosphere before a gliding runway landing. For more information on Virgin Galactic's spaceships, click here. You can watch a short video on YouTube about the VSS Enterprise by clicking here.

Commercial space flights will launch from Spaceport America, located in southern New Mexico. Virgin Galactic's headquarters will be located at the world's first spaceport of its kind. It is designed to blend into the surrounding landscape, and is currently under construction. Click here to read more about Spaceport America.

Reserve your very own trip into outer space by clicking here. You will need to put down a deposit of at least $20,000 toward your $200,000 ticket. If you need to save a little extra cash first, click here to sign up for e-mail updates. Prices are expected to become increasingly affordable over time.