Announcing the design of space tourism

Virgin Galactic has announced the final design of the launch system will bring paid tourists into space. The ship called SpaceShipTwo , based on the idea of ​​SpaceShipOne (the winner of the X-prize idea selection), is a rocket ship that is put on the sky thanks to a lift plane.

The Virgin system is basically just an improvement, but it has increased its size so it can carry 8 people at once. The ship will take guests around the low orbit earth, starting in 2010.

Virgin owner Richard Branson said the space business has great potential. It has also contracted with famous designer Burt Rutan to build lift aircraft. This type of aircraft - known as White Knight Two - is almost complete and can be tested at the end of the year.

The main passenger ship has completed about 60%. Both are being built at Rutan's factory in California, USA.

The SpaceShipTwo carrying cosmonauts will be carried to the sky by two lift planes.(Photo: BBC)