springer.com Erik Seedhouse Virgin Galactic The First Ten Years Series: Space Exploration Serves as a go-to book and reference guide for suborbital space tourists, space scientists and those who want to know how one maverick company pulled off one of the most remarkable achievements in manned spaceflight Describes the medical and training requirements for those flying on board, the critical roles of the astronaut trainers (of whom the author is one), and the new breed of commercial space pilots Provides an insight into the companies supporting Virgin Galactic, including space training agencies such as NASTAR and rocket companies such as Sierra Nevada Thirty years ago when Sir Richard Branson called up Boeing and asked if they had a spare 2015, XIX, 203 p. 85 illus., 76 illus. in 747, few would have predicted the brash entrepreneur would so radically transform the placid color. business of air travel. But today, Branson flies airlines on six continents, employs hundreds of jets and, in 2014, was predicting that his spaceship company – Virgin Galactic – would soon Printed book open the space frontier to commercial astronauts, payload specialists, scientists and space Softcover tourists. With more than 600 seats sold at $250,000 each, what started off as a dream to 37,99 € | £32.99 | $49.99 send people just for the excitement to look back and marvel at Earth, was on the cusp of [1]40,65 € (D) | 41,79 € (A) | CHF finally being turned into a business. Then, on October 21, 2014, tragedy struck. 45,00 SpaceShipTwo was on its most ambitious test flight to date. Seconds after firing its engine, Virgin Galactic’s spaceship was breaking through the sound barrier. In just the three seconds eBook that it took for the vehicle to climb from Mach 0.94 to Mach 1.02, co-pilot Mike Alsbury made 32,09 € | £25.99 | $39.99 what many close to the event believe was a fatal mistake that led to his death and the [2]32,09 € (D) | 32,09 € (A) | CHF disintegration of SpaceShipTwo. Miraculously, the pilot, Peter Siebold, survived the 16-km fall 36,00 back to Earth. Soon after the event Branson vowed to continue his space tourism venture in Available from your library or spite of this. Already a second SpaceShipTwo is being built, and ticket-holders eagerly await the springer.com/shop day when Virgin Galactic offers quick, routine and affordable access to the edge of space. MyCopy [3] Printed eBook for just € | $ 24.99 springer.com/mycopy Error[en_EN | Export.Bookseller. MediumType | SE] Order online at springer.com / or for the Americas call (toll free) 1-800-SPRINGER / or email us at: [email protected]. / For outside the Americas call +49 (0) 6221-345-4301 / or email us at: [email protected]. The first € price and the £ and $ price are net prices, subject to local VAT. Prices indicated with [1] include VAT for books; the €(D) includes 7% for Germany, the €(A) includes 10% for Austria. Prices indicated with [2] include VAT for electronic products; 19% for Germany, 20% for Austria. All prices exclusive of carriage charges. Prices and other details are subject to change without notice. All errors and omissions excepted. [3] No discount for MyCopy. Part of .