The vertically integrated aerospace company, Virgin Galactic, announced the Space Act Agreement signing with NASA’s Johnson Space Center in efforts to promote commercial participation in human spaceflight to the International Space Station (ISS) and to advance Low Earth Orbit economy.
Through a newly developed private orbital astronaut readiness program under the agreement, Virgin Galactic will be identifying candidates that are interested in the purchase of private astronaut missions to the ISS, ground resources, on-orbit resources, and the procurement of transportation to the ISS. For each private astronaut the supporting and coordinating of the use of ISS resources will be critical. Given that next generation space travelers have a comprehensive interest of space experiences Virgin Galactic trusts it will provide an unparalleled and unique customer experience with the furthering of its commercial spaceflight training for orbital space travel.
NASA is noting an increasing demand for the use of the ISS for commercial activity, international collaboration, and scientific and technological research and development. The experiences could range from private citizen expeditions to government research missions.
As part of the partnership NASA will be leveraging industry knowledge, commercial expertise, program management, and training packages for private passengers from Virgin Galactic. The partnership also serves to demonstrate greater involvement of the commercial sector in human spaceflight that could lead to other research operations and commercial activities at the ISS.
A Future Astronaut Readiness program has already been developed by Virgin Galactic for customers what will be flying out of Spaceport America in Southern New Mexico. The existing space experiences might play a vital role for the orbital travel training in assisting passengers with the familiarization of space environment factors such like G-forces and zero-G. Spaceport America is Virgin Galactic’s home base and will be used for certain elements of the training program.
George Whitesides, CEO of Virgin Galactic said “We are excited to partner with NASA on this private orbital spaceflight program, which will not only allow us to use our spaceflight platform, but also offer our space training infrastructure to NASA and other agencies. Based on the unsurpassed levels of spaceflight customer commitments we have secured to date; we are proud to share that insight in helping to grow another market for the new space economy. We want to bring the planetary perspective to many thousands of people.”
Release Courtesy to Virgin Galactic
