Virgin Galactic Says 2015 Will Be An 'Amazing' Year

With the second SpaceShipTwo continuing to take shape in the Mojave Desert, Virgin Galactic says it remains undeterred in its commitment to achieving its goals.

Writing on the company blog, Sir Richard Branson says Virgin Galactic "is not just about taking people up to space, but also about connecting space to Earth. We believe that exploring space will make life better on Earth – a broader perspective is crucial to solving our planet’s greatest challenges.

"To do this we’re working towards the vision of creating the world's first commercial spaceline and operating a fleet of vehicles. Our second spaceship is being built and tested by our wholly-owned sister organisation, The Spaceship Company; and together we are making any modifications or improvements that we feel are necessary to improve the safety of the vehicle. The spaceship is being worked on and will be operated by a strong team of stand-out professionals who are committed to helping us persevere and ultimately succeed."

In a recent speech, Virgin Galactic CEO, George Whitesides said “We begin 2015 inspired by the words of support we have received from around the world, thankful for our global community of Future Astronauts who have been so steadfast in their commitment, and proud of our team of over 400 rocket scientists, engineers, designers, and more who have come together to create the world’s first commercial spaceline. Most of all, we remain committed to the goal of opening space to all. 2015 will be an important and exciting year, and we are looking forward to the future.”

Branson said that with the second spaceship in scope, 2015 is shaping up to be an amazing year – "One where we further our understanding about Earth, space and ultimately humanity. Here’s to looking upward to something bigger, deeper and better."

(Image from Virgin Galactic video)

FMI: www.virgingalactic.com