Richard Branson and designer Burt Rutan unveiled the “WhiteKnightTwo” (WK2) in the Mojave desert - the vehicle which will carry the equally badly named “SpaceShipTwo” (SS2) into what is technically a sub-orbit around the Earth.

After previously only seen as a computer generated render, it’s good to see the vehicle in the flesh. Especially so as the aircraft was created completely within a computer - with no full sized models to aid in testing. The aircraft, made completely of carbon composites, has been designed with versatility in mind too - meaning that in the future the platform can be used for things other than the SS2. The WK2 has a ceiling of around about 50,000 ft, which will give the SS2 a kick start into the atmosphere - where it can fire it’s rockets to take the lucky inhabitants up to an altitude of over 350,000 ft.

The tickets cost £100,000 each although I think Richard Branson only really wants to break even - I reckon with his cash, the idea is more appealing than the profit.

The European Space Agency have launched an automated docking vehicle into space to resupply the International Space Station. Packed with goodies for the astronauts on-board, the ATV (Automated Transport Vehicle) launched this morning into low earth orbit. The space craft, named “Jules Verne” is Europe’s most advanced so far and will automatically dock to the ISS when it meets up on the 3rd of April. [SHOW ME]

A proposal has been put forward for the UK to join forces with NASA to lead a moon mission - with robots. The idea is to fire small robots from a satellite to bore into the moon’s surface and take samples - then beam this information back up. The satellite would then communicate the data back to earth. Nobody mentions the fate of the tiny robots after they’ve done their job - maybe they’ll be left to start a small robot frontier ranch.

This is really exciting and shows a growing interest to go back to the moon and pick up where we left off - all we need is a moon base and Mars will seem all that much closer. [SHOW ME]

If you sign up for the initial flights with Virgin Galactic it will set you back a cool £100,000 with a 10% deposit on booking your flight. For this, though, you will “officially” go into space and experience weightlessness. A bargain at twice the price (or at least in my opinion!)

The company, funded fully by Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, looks to be the first commercial offering space flight to actually get airborne. Even though Virgin Galactic are ahead of it’s opposition, the focus is on making sure everything is right (especially safety) before the go-for-launch order is given. The first lucky passengers are set to go up next year, Virgin announced yesterday, if all goes to plan. Read the full press-release [HERE]

Use a google maps-esque viewer to look at the Carina Nebula. Zoom and Pan till your hearts content. [SHOW ME]

Pluto has officially been booted out of the Solar System after a Czech conference determined the ex-planet falls outside of the official specifications.

The 26th General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) has declared finally after a long week that Pluto, after it’s 1930 discovery, has been deemed to be not a “planet” after all..

According to the new ruling, Pluto will be refered to as a “Dwarf Planet” because it’s orbit crosses Neptune’s. Below is the definition for a Planet, a Dwarf Planet and Small Solar System Bodies (comets and asteroids and the like.)

(1) A planet is a celestial body that (a) is in orbit around the Sun, (b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (c) has cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit.

(2) A dwarf planet is a celestial body that (a) is in orbit around the Sun, (b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, (c) has not cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit, and (d) is not a satellite.

(3) All other objects orbiting the Sun shall be referred to collectively as “Small Solar System Bodies”.

It’s not all that surprising to me though, everyone knows pluto’s a dog.

[link]