Interest Point 3 - Civilian Space Companies

From the stop sign turn right on Poole St, continue to the fence and turn left onto Finnin St. At the stop sign turn right on Sabovich St, eastbound, then another right the next stop sign onto Flight Systems Dr., southbound. Stopping at the end of the straight portion of Flight Systems Dr. at gate A08 provides the best view of the Southeast side of the airport.

 

To the south is the Virgin Galactic hangar where The Spaceship Company (TSC), Virgin Galactic's sister company, is developing the world's first commercial spaceliner. Virgin Galactic, owned by Sir Richard Branson, aims to send members of the general public on suborbital flights to space. The company has sold numerous tickets to people wanting to be on the forefront of space tourism. The construction and test of space vehicles and carrier ships is completed here in Mojave. SpaceShipTwo, Virgin Galactic's suborbital spacecraft, is air launched from beneath a carrier airplane known as White Knight Two.

 

Virgin Orbit is a company within the Virgin Group which plans to provide launch services for small satellites. The company was formed in 2017 to develop the air-launched LauncherOne rocket, launched from Cosmic Girl, which is a modified Boeing 747.  Virgin Orbit focuses on small satellite launch, which is one of three capabilities being focused on by Virgin Galactic. These capabilities are: human spaceflight operations, small satellite launch, and advanced aerospace design, manufacturing, and test.

 

To the Southeast is Stratolauch Systems, a Paul G Allen Project. The company has constructing the largest aircraft to ever fly. The vehicle is designed to bring manned and unmanned vehicles to space. Stratolaunch leadership is assembling a team of companies that are innovation leaders in aerospace. Stratolaunch designs, manufactures, and launches aerospace vehicles and technologies to fulfill several important national needs, including the need for reliable, routine access to space and the need to significantly advance the nation’s ability to design and operate hypersonic vehicles. Stratolaunch was acquired by Cereberus Capital management in June 2019. The company is now developing the Talon-A reusable, rocket powered, hypersonic flight vehicle and would be focusing on offering high-speed flight test services.