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Richard Branson has unveiled an aircraft in California that will be used to launch tourists into space under the Virgin Galactic brand.
The high-altitude jet, dubbed WhiteKnightTwo "Eve", will act as the mothership for a spacecraft able to carry two crew and six passengers on sub-orbital flights.
WhiteKnightTwo will cradle SpaceShipTwo under its wing and release it at 15,200m in the air. From there, SpaceShipTwo will fire its hybrid rocket and climb 100km above the Earth.
Mr Branson predicts the maiden space voyage will take place in 18 months with more than 250 people having already paid US$200,000 each to be among the first making the tourist trips.
(c) NewsRoom 2008
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