For some time now, Virgin Galactic has had a goal in the works for creating one of the very first commercial space flights. And by space flights, they don't mean in earth's atmospheric space - they mean outer space. For those who have always wanted to know what it's like to be an astronaut, their chances might come sooner rather than later.
Among all the strange things that can be found in outer space, humans are about to be the next thing on the list. Not only is the design top of the line and innovative, but it's intended to add comfort to a journey through time and (literal) space. The Founder of the Virgin Group, Richard Branson, said that the cabin has "been designed specifically to allow thousands of people like you and me to achieve the dream of spaceflight safely," and that the entire process is "incredibly exciting." What's even more exciting are the details of the first commercial spacecraft, on which potential passengers can put down their $1,000 deposit for a $250,000 round-trip ticket.
The Spaceship Design
The design of this aircraft is truly futuristic and pushes any limits we've previously seen on any flight. Its intended use is to be versatile from commercial trips to actual missions and sports enough features to make both incredibly comfortable. The interior is streamlined and looks like something from a space movie (Interstellar, anyone?). The technology within the craft is high-tech and functioning at the highest capacity for a journey such as this.
While it is quite the undertaking, Virgin Galactic has been designed with the notion in mind of opening up outer space for general public exploration; a means to give the average person a taste of what it's like to float around in space. With this notion in mind, extreme safety precautions have also been put in place so that passengers not only have the experience of a lifetime but will also feel safe while doing it.
So how did Virgin Galactic accomplish this stellar (no pun intended) feat? With the help of experts, of course. The company consulted with astronaut trainers, doctors, engineers, and even potential customers for input and guidelines, according to Travel + Leisure. One interesting question that was posed to the group was how to temper a "high adrenaline" environment such as a spaceship in order to make it a calm and serene place to be during takeoff and landing. One answer to this was the addition of timed lighting, which serves as a visual signal to passengers during times of excitement or calm. The hope for additions such as these lights is the experience will be both rewarding and thrilling, rather than stressful and uncertain.
The VSS Unity also features 12 windows that wrap around the entire spacecraft, allowing passengers to have a steady view of the earth from every angle. The spacecraft also allows for a level of weightlessness as passengers experience zero gravity for the first time, making it an interactive experience as well as one that's educational and scenic.
Even the seating on this spacecraft has been built to temper the effects of space travel - including offsetting G-forces. These seats will also display live flight data for passengers with its innovative design.