{"id":37626,"date":"2020-05-05T21:51:58","date_gmt":"2020-05-05T13:51:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/point-to-point-transportation-gains-boost-via-nasa-virgin-galactic-saa\/"},"modified":"2020-05-05T21:51:58","modified_gmt":"2020-05-05T13:51:58","slug":"point-to-point-transportation-gains-boost-via-nasa-virgin-galactic-saa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/point-to-point-transportation-gains-boost-via-nasa-virgin-galactic-saa\/","title":{"rendered":"Point-To-Point transportation gains boost via NASA\/Virgin Galactic SAA"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A Space Act Agreement (SAA) between NASA, Virgin Galactic and The Spaceship Company (TSC) has been announced, raising the hope that spacecraft could one day become a future high-speed civilian transportation system. Utilizing the \u201cPoint-To-Point\u201d method, Virgin Galactic \u2013 and as previously envisioned by SpaceX \u2013 is aiming for a transportation option that would vastly reduce transit times.<\/p>\n<p>The SAA is aimed at \u201cadvancing the United States\u2019 efforts to produce technically feasible, high Mach vehicles for potential civil applications,\u201d noted the text of the agreement.<\/p>\n<h4 class=\"widget-title penci-border-arrow\">See Also<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Virgin Galactic\/Orbit section<\/li>\n<li>L2 Future Vehicles<\/li>\n<li>Click here to Join L2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The general idea revolves around launching the vehicle into space from its departure point, before re-entering and arriving at the destination site for landing \u2013 all in a fraction of the time it would take to fly between both points on a conventional airliner.<\/p>\n<p>This is a somewhat obvious application, but it has never been realized due to most vehicles being unable to conduct such a mission profile that results in a landing and a quick turnaround for reuse.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s been a year since Sir Richard Branson noted his interest in setting up more spaceports around the world, in addition to Spaceport America, to allow the build-up of a network of destinations with passengers flying between them on SpaceShipTwo, or a variant that is yet to be designed by TSC.<\/p>\n<p>Sir Branson said he envisions \u201ca global network of spaceports, trans-continental supersonic space flights, delivering passengers anywhere on the world within a couple of hours.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-1\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" class=\"\" style=\"position: static; visibility: visible; width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=NASASpaceflight&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-1&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=1126894164841574400&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasaspaceflight.com%2F2020%2F05%2Fp-t-p-transportation-boost-nasa-virgin-galactic-saa%2F&amp;sessionId=14a5f6f5867e2cd92d9044afbab58ea34fbc2382&amp;siteScreenName=NASASpaceflight&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-14=\"true\" data-gtm-yt-inspected-21=\"true\" data-tweet-id=\"1126894164841574400\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" data-twitter-extracted-i1783498818727133307=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">A bit of an Easter Egg from Richard Branson. Talking about a global network of spaceports, trans-continental supersonic space flights, delivering passengers anywhere on the world within a couple of hours. pic.twitter.com\/WBZ6xvsfPO<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Chris Bergin \u2013 NSF (@NASASpaceflight) May 10, 2019<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Now, one year on, the announcement of an SAA with NASA takes the potential of this becoming reality one step closer, with Virgin Galactic believing it can \u201cleverage its robust platform of advanced technologies, significant vertically integrated design, engineering and manufacturing capabilities, and thousands of hours of flight testing to develop additional aerospace applications.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Astronomy<path d=\"M7.59009 18.59L9.00009 20L17.0001 12L9.00009 4L7.59009 5.41L14.1701 12\" style=\"animation: initial !important; background: initial !important; border: 0px !important; box-shadow: none !important; color: inherit !important; cursor: inherit !important; direction: inherit !important; display: inline !important; fill: currentcolor !important; filter: initial !important; float: none !important; margin: 0px !important; opacity: initial !important; outline: 0px !important; overflow: initial !important; padding: 0px !important; stroke: initial !important; transform: initial !important; vertical-align: initial !important; visibility: inherit !important;\"><\/path>NASA mission patches<path d=\"M7.59009 18.59L9.00009 20L17.0001 12L9.00009 4L7.59009 5.41L14.1701 12\" style=\"animation: initial !important; background: initial !important; border: 0px !important; box-shadow: none !important; color: inherit !important; cursor: inherit !important; direction: inherit !important; display: inline !important; fill: currentcolor !important; filter: initial !important; float: none !important; margin: 0px !important; opacity: initial !important; outline: 0px !important; overflow: initial !important; padding: 0px !important; stroke: initial !important; transform: initial !important; vertical-align: initial !important; visibility: inherit !important;\"><\/path>Space Shuttle models<path d=\"M7.59009 18.59L9.00009 20L17.0001 12L9.00009 4L7.59009 5.41L14.1701 12\" style=\"animation: initial !important; background: initial !important; border: 0px !important; box-shadow: none !important; color: inherit !important; cursor: inherit !important; direction: inherit !important; display: inline !important; fill: currentcolor !important; filter: initial !important; float: none !important; margin: 0px !important; opacity: initial !important; outline: 0px !important; overflow: initial !important; padding: 0px !important; stroke: initial !important; transform: initial !important; vertical-align: initial !important; visibility: inherit !important;\"><\/path>\n<p>     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});<\/p>\n<p>Virgin Galactic added it is seeking to develop a vehicle \u201cfor the next-generation of safe and efficient high-speed air travel, with a focus on customer experience and environmental responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis Space Act Agreement will enable NASA to collaborate with Virgin Galactic and The Spaceship Company to allow our organizations to take advantage of new tools, techniques, and technologies developed over the last 50 years and to explore potential new solutions for the commercial aviation industry,\u201d noted Dr. James Kenyon, Director of the NASA Aeronautics Advanced Air Vehicles Program.<\/p>\n<p>Citing opportunities \u201cto apply higher speeds to drive technological development to allow industries to adapt to the changing economic and ecological environment,\u201d the partners believe the collaboration during the SAA\u2019s term will inform the development of national strategies using economic and technical foundations with a focus on sustainability.<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-66441\" class=\"size-full wp-image-66441\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/NSF-2020-05-05-23-31-57-667.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"979\" height=\"543\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/NSF-2020-05-05-23-31-57-667.jpg 979w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/NSF-2020-05-05-23-31-57-667-350x194.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/NSF-2020-05-05-23-31-57-667-630x350.jpg 630w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/NSF-2020-05-05-23-31-57-667-768x426.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 979px) 100vw, 979px\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-66441\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Spaceship Company workforce<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is the beginning of an important partnership for Virgin Galactic and The Spaceship Company that will support the future development of aviation technology,\u201d added George Whitesides, CEO of Virgin Galactic Holdings.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cVirgin Galactic\u2019s unique experience and innovative technology platform will, in partnership with the historic capabilities of NASA and other government agencies, enable the progression of new technical steps that will improve US competitiveness. We see this as an area with tremendous growth potential that we will continue to invest in, alongside our commercial spaceflight operations.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Point-To-Point opportunities \u2013 often cited over the years, including a short-lived option with the defunct VentureStar program, shown in one render as launching from an airport with paying passengers \u2013 gained a major boost when Elon Musk noted it as one of Starship\u2019s uses during the \u201cEarth To Earth\u201d reveal in 2017.<\/p>\n<p>Such a network plays into one of Elon Musk\u2019s aspirations for SpaceX\u2019s Starship and Super Heavy vehicles, as shown in his \u201cEarth To Earth\u201d concept.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-66440\" class=\"size-full wp-image-66440\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/NSF-2020-05-05-23-30-10-478.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1588\" height=\"948\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/NSF-2020-05-05-23-30-10-478.jpg 1588w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/NSF-2020-05-05-23-30-10-478-350x209.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/NSF-2020-05-05-23-30-10-478-586x350.jpg 586w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/NSF-2020-05-05-23-30-10-478-768x458.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nasaspaceflight.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/NSF-2020-05-05-23-30-10-478-1170x698.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1588px) 100vw, 1588px\"><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-66440\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Starship Earth-To-Earth (Point-To-Point) concept, envisioned by Mack Crawford for NSF\/L2<\/p>\n<p>Very little has been said about the use of Starships to transport people from cities around the world with transit times that would allow passengers to arrive anywhere in the world within the hour.<\/p>\n<p>This is likely due to SpaceX\u2019s focus on developing the vehicle as is ongoing in Boca Chica and maturing the technology to prove it could be safely utilized in the domestic travel arena as well as the hurdles that would need to be overcome with domestic authorities \u2013 both in the States and aboard \u2013 to approve Starship launches and landings.<\/p>\n<p>Such launch and landing facilities \u2013 envisioned to be out in the water next to major population centers \u2013 would also require huge amounts of propellant to keep the vehicles suitably fueled for point-to-point missions.<\/p>\n<p>However, with Sir Branson\u2019s comments last year and this newly announced SAA, the potential for a two-tier transportation system could become available, with SpaceX working on orbital velocity flights and Virgin Galactic working on supersonic suborbital transits.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Space Act Agreement (SAA) between NASA, Virgin Galactic and The Spaceship Company (TSC) has been announced, raising the hope that spacecraft could one day become a future high-speed civilian transportation system. Utilizing the \u201cPoint-To-Point\u201d method, Virgin Galactic \u2013 and as previously envisioned by SpaceX \u2013 is aiming for a transportation option that would vastly [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29854,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[492],"class_list":["post-37626","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-virgin-galactic"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37626"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37626"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37626\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/29854"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37626"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37626"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37626"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}