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Why Are You Waiting to Become a Virgin Galactic Astronaut?
View a video about the Virgin Galactic experience,
from the future astronauts themselves!
Video will load in new window, click here. |
Virgin Galactic is a company owned and established by Richard Branson's Virgin Group to undertake the challenge of making private space travel available to everyone and by creating the world's first commercial spaceline.
Virgin will own and operate privately built spaceships, based on the history making SpaceShipOne . These spaceships, will allow affordable private sub-orbital space travel for the first time in history and give you the opportunity of being amongst the very first private astronauts.
Betty Maclean Travel, Inc. is proud to have two Virgin Galactic Specialists - Mary Ann Ramsey, CTC, DS, President is an Accredited Space Agent. She was handpicked by Virgin Galactic to be one of the first consultants in North America to sell seats aboard Virgin Galactic flights. She has undergone intensive training on every aspect of the suborbital flight, and has participated in many of the milestone events Virgin Galactic has celebrated in the past two years. Claudia Gordon, CTC, DS, Senior Travel Consultant is a Space Travel Specialist. She has also been extensively trained on Virgin Galactic's program and ships.
Find additional information and updates about Virgin Galactic below.
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WhiteKnightTwo & SpaceShipTwo
July 15, 2010 |
WhiteKnightTwo & SpaceShipTwo completed their third captive carry flight. But this was a very significant one as for the first time there were two pilots crewing SpaceShipTwo. There was much anticipation in the lead up to this flight, it was a major milestone in the test flight program. It was a cause for celebration for all of the people at Scaled and Virgin Galactic.
As well as the technical milestones achieved, today was the first time SS2 flew with VG livery on her underside. Today's flight was one of the last milestones to achieve before SS2 under goes her glide test program, meaning that she will fly alone for the first time. Scaled and Virgin Galactic are delighted that things are progressing as planned and we all here at Betty Maclean Travel, Inc. share their excitement.
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VSS Enterprise takes to the sky!
March 22, 2010 |
VSS Enterprise, the world's first commercial manned spaceship leaves Terra Firma for the first time and performs a flawless maiden flight attached to the VMS Eve Mothership. The flight lasts just short of three hours and both vehicles climbed to an altitude of 45,000ft.
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VSS Enterprise Revealed
December 7, 2009 |
On a cold and windy Mojave evening, over 800 of the world's media, invited guests and VIP's, including Governors Schwarzenegger and Richardson also included was our very own Mary Ann Ramsey, all joined Sir Richard Branson and Burt Rutan to herald the dawn of a new era.
In a dramatic unveil, Virgin Galactic’s first SpaceShipTwo emerges from the darkness attached to her Mothership, VMS Eve, to a fabulous light and music show. Holly Branson, Sir Richard’s daughter, along with the two Governors perform the naming ceremony of the world’s first commercial manned spaceship - Virgin Spaceship Enterprise. The spaceship is now ready to commence an exhaustive test fight program prior to the start of full commercial operations.
   
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WhiteKnightTwo has left the ground!
WK2 (WhiteKnightTwo) has just successfully completed her very first flight test and has touched down on the runway at Mojave. |
With Peter Siebold and Clint Nichols piloting, WK2 was in the air for just over one hour and climbed to a top altitude of 16,000 ft.
Enrico Palermo, Virgin Galactic's Project Engineering Manager was fortunate enough to be on the ground in Mojave, CA over the weekend to witness the lead up to the maiden flight of Virgin Mothership Eve and the flight itself. Enrico reports:
With the bizarre weather in Mojave last week (i.e. a snow storm!), a pre-Christmas first flight of VMS Eve was starting to look doubtful. However, due to a dramatic change in weather and a great push by the Scaled team, Virgin Galactic was advised late Friday afternoon London time that there was a good chance of high speed taxi tests and a first flight over the weekend. Plans immediately swung into action to get our film crews and photographers out to the site to capture this moment in history.
Saturday Morning
0600 - a crew briefing was held to go through the plans for the day. The weather looked great in the morning, with a chance of strong winds later on. Medium speed and high speed tests went very well. I was stationed in mission control for the taxi tests which provided a unique and exciting perspective. In the end, Scaled decided not to proceed with the first flight on Saturday as the infamous Mojave winds arrived exceeding the prescribed flight test limits. However, when the crew reconvened later at 2pm, having reviewed the taxi tests, there was unanimous agreement that everything was GO for a first flight on Sunday, weather permitting.
Sunday Morning:
0400 - This morning the team was on site early as they knew that the winds would get stronger later in the day and therefore an early start was vital. At 5am, while it was still pretty cold outside, Eve was rolled out of its hangar to be prepared for flight. Winds were calm - almost non-existent - though some nearby airports were registering winds, adding just a slight touch of apprehension that the weather could play a part. Scaled's flight test requirements are rightly very strict on weather conditions for a first flight. At 6am, another crew briefing was held to review the test card for first flight and the green light was given for the first flight attempt.
0700 - Eve's inboard engines were started and pre-flight tests carried out. The aircraft was taxied out to Mojave runway 30 at around 7:45am on a glorious, calm Mojave morning. At the runway hammerhead, final checks were completed and the outboard engines were started. Clearance to take off was given at approximately 8:15am, the engines were throttled up and VMS Eve powered down the runway. After a matter of seconds she was airborne for the first time and climbed gracefully through the air. To see Eve flying, with her unusual twin fuselage configuration, was a truly amazing sight. A chase plane, circling up to this point, then flew alongside Eve so that the flight test team could start working through the test card.
0800 - After almost an hour of flight, it was time to bring Eve back in. Before landing, the pilots flew a low approach over runway 30 to simulate and practice for landing. The people now accumulated in the spaceport’s public viewing area (mainly Scaled staff, airport staff and family of the crew) probably had the best view here as the aircraft came in low. With a successful low pass completed, the crew circled around, requested clearance and came in for a landing. VMS Eve's first landing was flawless, and she coasted down the runway to a full stop. Her maiden flight was over, and the debriefing and celebrations could begin!
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On July 28, 2008 history was made
when Sir Richard Branson and Burt Rutan revealed WhiteKnightTwo to the world..
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The world's first and only completely carbon composite aircraft purpose-built for spaceflight launch, WhiteKnightTwo will launch the world's first commercial passengers into space.
With four incredibly fuel efficient Pratt & Whitney engines and named VMS Eve in honor of Richard Branson's mother, SpaceShipTwo's mothership will commence an extensive test flight program with Scaled Composites later this year. | | |
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Once this is complete, she will begin tests flights with SpaceShipTwo in preparation for commercial spaceflight operations out of Spaceport America in New Mexico. | |
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From Mary Ann Ramsey, Virgin Galactic Accredited Space Agent and Claudia Gordon, Virgin Galactic Space Travel Specialist:
On August 15, 2008 we were two of just 25 travel consultants from the United States given a behind-the-scenes tour by Burt Rutan and Brian Binnie of Scaled Composites, the company that won the 10 million dollar Ansari X-Prize in 2004 for sending a man to space and back twice in just six days with a re-usable and privately funded spaceflight system.
Scaled Composites are now building SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnightTwo, the revolutionary vehicles that will be taking commercial passengers to space in just a few years time.
During the tour we were given a private viewing of WhiteKnightTwo, the world's largest completely carbon composite aircraft purpuse-built for spaceflight launch and one of the most fuel efficient aircrafts on Earth.
If you would like to find out about the ultimate life experience, then please contact Mary Ann Ramsey or Claudia Gordon and we will be delighted to share our knowledge with you...
Mary Ann Ramsey, CTC, DS, ASA
Betty Maclean Travel, Inc.
E: MaryAnn@BettyMacleanTravel.com
P: 239-513-0333 or 800-865-8111
W: www.BettyMacleanTravel.com
Claudia Gordon, CTC, DS, STS
Betty Maclean Travel, Inc.
E: Claudia@BettyMacleanTravel.com
P: 239-513-0333 or 800-865-8111
W: www.BettyMacleanTravel.com
RESERVE YOUR PLACE IN SPACE NOW AND HELP MAKE HISTORY!
Already well over 250 people have put down a deposit to secure their place in history and experience the final frontier for themselves. Reserve now for an experience that begins from the day you become a Virgin Galactic Future Astronaut. You will be joining one of the most exclusive clubs in the world with VIP invitations to project milestone events and much more.
To find out more, contact Mary Ann Ramsey or Claudia Gordon, who have been handpicked by Virgin from some of the best travel advisors on Earth and have been intensively trained to give you the best service possible. | |
 Mary Ann Ramsey with WhiteKnightTwo
Scaled Composites; Mojave, California
Claudia Gordon with WhiteKnightTwo
Scaled Composites; Mojave, California |
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Listen to an interview with Mary Ann Ramsey
on the radio show Gulf Coast Live! with Luis Hernandez on WGCU FM 90.1 here
To listen: Right click on link and select 'Save Target As' to download mp3.
File size is 36mb. |
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VIRTUOSO SPECIALIST, MARY ANN RAMSEY
IS OVER THE MOON FOR SPACE TRAVEL
MARY ANN RAMSEY SELECTED BY VIRGIN GALACTIC
TO BECOME AN ACCREDITED SPACE AGENT IN NORTH AMERICA
“Fly me to the moon” is no longer a romantic notion, it’s a request that Virtuoso travel consultant Mary Ann Ramsey, CTC, DS will soon hear. Virgin Galactic, in conjunction with Virtuoso, proudly announced the travel consultants who will train to become “Accredited Space Agents” – the first and only consultants in North America allowed to reserve seats aboard Virgin Galactic’s suborbital space flights. Mary Ann Ramsey is among an elite group of 45 consultants, the only one in Southwest Florida, selected for this unique accreditation process.
As a part of this select group of consultants, Ms. Ramsey recently went through an extensive three day training program at Kennedy Space Center. She can now begin reserving seats for the flights, currently set to launch in early 2009.
To date, the world has seen fewer than 500 astronauts, but with the launch of Virgin Galactic spaceflights that will soon change. Together with Virgin Galactic, Virtuoso’s “Accredited Space Agents” are poised to turn the dream of going to space into a reality for their clientele. The once-in-a-lifetime experience includes Astronaut training, ‘G force’ acclimatization and a sensational spaceflight lasting over two hours. At $200,000 per ticket, Virgin Galactic’s flights are a mere fraction of the $20 million price tag associated with other commercial space tourism. And while Virgin Galactic’s technology makes space travel more attainable for the general public, it takes a talented and skilled luxury travel consultant to sell a trip to space.
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Read an article on Virgin Galactic in a recent issue of Virtuoso Life magazine.
Features an interview with Richard Branson
View here |
About Virgin Galactic
Virgin Galactic is a company established by Richard Branson's Virgin Group to undertake the challenge of developing space tourism for everybody. It will own and operate privately built spaceships, modeled on the history-making SpaceShipOne craft. These spaceships will allow affordable sub-orbital space tourism for the first time in our history. Virgin Galactic will run as a business with the sole purpose of making space travel more and more affordable to people throughout the world. They will reinvest funds made over the first few years back into the business striving constantly to lower prices.
Artist Rendering of Spaceport America in New Mexico
Virgin Galactic Three-Day Experience
After three days of exciting preparation, bonding and training, passengers will board the spaceship, which climbs to 50,000 feet while attached to a specially designed carrier aircraft – an intrinsically safer way to launch than vertically from the ground. From here, the spaceship releases from the carrier and climbs vertically, reaching the speed of sound in 10 seconds and around four times the speed of sound in under 30 seconds, all while powered by a clean and safe hybrid rocket motor.
Traveling at over 3,000 miles an hour, the G-force surge will push the would-be astronauts back into their seats as they head into the black sky and a maximum altitude of about 75 miles above the earth's surface. When the rocket motor shuts down, everyone on board will experience the silence of space and the magic of weightlessness. They will be able to see the curvature of the earth and 1,000 miles in any direction. They will also see the atmosphere protecting the earth.
Passengers will experience the wonder of weightlessness before the spacecraft returns to earth, passing back through the atmosphere without a heat build-up thanks to the unique wing feathering technology, and making a normal runway landing.
Virgin Galactic: Quick Facts
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SPACE FLIGHT HISTORY:
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1961 – Yuri Gagarin becomes the first man in space
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1969 – Neil Armstrong becomes the first man to walk on the moon
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1996 – Original plans for the Ansari X prize announced. $10m for the first non-government human space flight.
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1999 - The name Virgin Galactic is first registered as Virgin began discussions with several fledgling private space ventures with a view to investment in the sector.
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2001 - Paul Allen’s vision leads to the creation of SpaceShipOne by legendary aviation designer, Burt Rutan.
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21st June, 2004 – the first manned space flight by a private, non-Government program – Mike Melvill flying SpaceShipOne
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27th September 2004, Sir Richard Branson and Burt Rutan announce plans or the world’s first commercial manned space operator – Virgin Galactic
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29th September 2004 – Mike Melvill pilots the first successful X Prize qualifying flight reaching 330,000 feet.
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4th October 2004 – Brian Binnie pilots the final X Prize flight reaching a record 368,000 feet. The X Prize is won and Virgin Galactic is born
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To date only 450 people have been to space (FAI Definition)
DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY :
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The new Virgin spaceships (SpaceShipTwo / SS2) will be based on Burt Rutan designed SpaceShipOne, X Prize winner - a tried and tested prototype.
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Composite construction – very light and very strong.
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Two stage horizontal launch concept – mothership “White KnightTwo” and Spaceship SS2.
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Fully pressurised cabin, double skin construction
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Extremely safe and controllable hybrid rocket motor
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Unique wing - feathering technology to slow and control re-entry (“Care-Free Re-entry”)
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Unpowered (glide) runway landing
CABIN DESIGN:
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Each flight will carry 6 passengers and two pilots.
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SS2 Cabin will be fully pressurized at all stages of the flight.
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Passengers will be allowed to leave their seats and experience the joys of weightlessness.
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Reclining seats to minimise effects of G forces on re-entry
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Every passenger will have access to large windows which will allow them to enjoy the amazing views – around 1000 miles in any direction
FLIGHT SCHEDULE:
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WhiteKnightTwo (WK2) mothership climbs to 50,000 feet, carrying SS2.
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On release, the rocket motor fires and spaceship accelerates in a vertical climb to nearly four times the speed of sound
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Maximum altitude will be at least 68 miles
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Wings feather to allow gentle re-entry to earth’s atmosphere
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Spaceship wings reconfigure after re-entry
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Glides and returns to point of departure
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Astronauts receive their “wings”
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Flight will last around 2 ½ hours including a period of weightlessness and preceded by 3 days of pre-flight training.
LAUNCH SITE:
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Initial launch site likely to be Mojave in California, USA
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Operation will then headquarter and fly from the purpose built Spaceport America in New Mexico, USA
PRE LAUNCH TRAINING AND ACTIVITIES:
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Three days enjoyable preparation – The Virgin Galactic Experience – to ensure that future astronauts can savour each second of their space flight.
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The interior of WK2 will replicate the SS2 interior allowing G force acclimatisation and safety training to take place on board WK2 pre the space flight itself.
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Will take place in the US close to or at the spaceport
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All included in the price
TICKET PRICE:
HOW MANY APPLICANTS:
SAFETY:
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Horizontal launch at altitude – not vertical launch from ground
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Benign and controllable rocket motor propellants
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Two pilots
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Simplicity and effectiveness of wing feathering for re-entry
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Spaceship and Virgin Galactic operation will be regulated and licensed by the US Federal Aviation Authority
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Rigorous and exhaustive testing regime before launch.
ENVIRONMENTAL CREDENTIALS:
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Ground to 50,000 feet carried by special carrier aircraft using the latest in efficient jet engine technology.
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Air launch means short rocket burn of approximately 45 seconds within the atmosphere.
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Lightweight composite construction minimises power output.
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Re-usable spacecraft – no space debris or wastage.
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New Mexico Spaceport planned to be powered by renewable energy sources. |
To learn more about Virgin Galactic, check out this information!
Call us at (239) 513-0333 or (800) 865-8111
or email us!
Introducing Zahra the Betty Maclean Travel, Inc. Space Dog!
She's ready to go into space in style!
 
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