Virgin Galactic unveils interior design for publicly accessible spacecraft

Virgin Galactic has revealed the interior of its industry changing 'SpaceShipTwo'.

In an event streamed live online and attended by Richard Branson via Zoom, the company unveiled the result of millions of dollars worth of research and development to make the onboard journey of aspiring astronauts as comfortable as possible. 

The livestream featured a virtual walkthrough of the cabin "curated by the multi-disciplinary team which has striven to ensure that every detail of its design works to provide an unparalleled and safe consumer experience", a wordy Virgin Galactic press release claimed.

George Whitesides, CEO of Virgin Galactic, said one of the defining hallmarks of the Virgin brand has been experience-enhancing, pioneering design. 

Virgin Galactic Spaceship Cabin Interior
Photo credit: Virgin Galactic

"Virgin Galactic has striven to remain faithful to that tradition by developing elegant, experience-focused vehicles for the space launch system, and choosing landmark architecture for our operational headquarters at Spaceport America, New Mexico.

"We are particularly delighted that, under current COVID-19 restrictions, we have been able to create an experience that we will be able to share with the millions of people around the world who dream of travelling to space."

Galactic Facts:

  • The spacecraft are designed to carry two pilots and up to six passengers
  • Total length of 18m
  • Tail height: 5m
  • Large windows are positioned throughout the cabin to provide maximum viewing potential for passengers
  • Zero gravity phase – several minutes of out-of-seat time
  • Supersonic speeds are reached within eight seconds of rocket ignition, with a maximum velocity of more than Mach 3.5 (more than three times the speed of sound)