Virgin Spaceship 2
 

BBC

Why does it have two fuselages, in addition to the spacecraft part?

Will it ever reach 'space'?

Would you go if you won the lottery?

This is just the PR master Branson latest 'keep me and my business in the news' stunt

If this thing ever flies then you can call me Susan:lol1:

Twice as many people.

Yes

Yes

Like most virgins it won't go all the way

Don't think so.
 

But it's only the rocket-propelled centre bit that detaches and climbs to space. Perhaps there would be sightseers in the other fuselages to spectate, but all that extra weight would add to the flight costs. I can't see there being loads of people prepared to pay to just go to 50,000ft. I still don't understand.

Hard to say since it is said to take only 6 passengers. I think the idea is to orbit the Earth so it will be in space.

Les

lol you must be doing it wrong

;)

Balance. If it was offset to one side like the X15 slung under a B52 wing pylon, it would have to retrim when it launched.
Not quite, it will be a sub orbital flight, it'll just go very very high (you'll see the curvature of the earth) then come back down.
Nope, if I was going to spend that money, I'd want an orbit at the very least. I'd prefer to go to russia and go up in a Foxbat. You'll go just as high and about about 100k in change, plus the pilot would refuse to take you up unless you had at least two vodkas with him beforehand!
astraboy.

well think i would have to go if it was possible.

Couldn't it just have a weighted pod with the undercarriage attached? That would surely be cheaper than a spare fuselage.

According to the report the 6 punters will be in the centre craft which will go up to 360000 ft, I think you'll see more than the curvature of the earth at that height.

I'd go for it when the lottery win clocks in :)

As I understand it, Funkii's explanation is correct. The carrier of the spacecraft returns to Earth after the spacecraft has been launched.

Les

I know nothing about aeronautics or whatever it's called but it looks to me like if one engine went out of balance the thing would flex and snap in two. Surely all that weight hanging on a big wing (when the middle bit's gone) can't help it stay in shape either. I know it's designed and made of a particular material to withstand all the forces but my tiny mind is still telling me that a central spar with weights hanging off either end isn't a good thing if you don't want stresses and strains.