AAE Professor Steven Collicott attends christening of new spaceship

AAE Professor Steven Collicott attended the the roll out of Virgin Galactic's newest spaceship, "Virgin Space Ship Unity," or "VSS Unity," on February 19th, 2016 at the Mojave Air & Space Port in Mojave, CA. Dr. Collicott was one of nearly 300 scientists, aerospace workers, and media invited to attend the christening. The event included remarks from several Virgin Galactic executives, including AAE alum Mike Moses (MSAAE '95) who is the company's Senior Vice President of Operations in charge of all aspects of Virgin Galactic's commercial suborbital spaceflight program.

The VSS Unity can accommodate six passengers and two pilots. It is very similar to its predecessor, the VSS Enterprise, which was successfully tested in 2013 but suffered a catastrophic failure in 2014, resulting in the death of one pilot. The VSS Unity will undergo rigorous testing this year before any humans are brought aboard, but some 700 people have already bought a $250,000 ticket to be among the first passengers to experience space tourism.

Pictured at right: AAE Professor Steven Collicott posing in front of VSS Unity On February 19, 2016, at the Mojave Air & Space Port in Mojave, CA.