Aerospace: Virgin Unveils "Eve"
Remember SpaceShip One? Well, Virgin's foray into sub-orbital flights is slowly becoming a reality. The carrier ship for the rocket module, the successor to the White Knight, has been dubbed "Eve" after Sir Branson's mother.
It's a beautiful craft, and I really like the detail they put on the nose. I mean really; I want a poster for my living room. It's artistic touch that generates a wild juxtaposition of purpose and concept since that kind of art never really was put on commercial aircraft, and at the same time, never on anything aimed at being less reckless or cutting-edge (WWII bombers and fighters were cutting-edge for the day).
Sometimes, I wish NASA would dress up their rockets like that, or at least have a little more fun with the program other than explaining to grade-schoolers how to go potty in zero gravity. But, I suppose this helps draw a line between romance and cutting-edge science and technology - this is clearly "sending people to LEO for the hell of it."
Also, the damn thing is 100% composite. Carbon-Fiber: it's not just for bicycles anymore.
Virgin - Press Package w/Images
It's a beautiful craft, and I really like the detail they put on the nose. I mean really; I want a poster for my living room. It's artistic touch that generates a wild juxtaposition of purpose and concept since that kind of art never really was put on commercial aircraft, and at the same time, never on anything aimed at being less reckless or cutting-edge (WWII bombers and fighters were cutting-edge for the day).
Sometimes, I wish NASA would dress up their rockets like that, or at least have a little more fun with the program other than explaining to grade-schoolers how to go potty in zero gravity. But, I suppose this helps draw a line between romance and cutting-edge science and technology - this is clearly "sending people to LEO for the hell of it."
Also, the damn thing is 100% composite. Carbon-Fiber: it's not just for bicycles anymore.
Virgin - Press Package w/Images