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[XiaNaphryz]

Saw this flying overhead earlier today.

Virgin Galactic’s White Knight Two, SpaceShipTwo lands at San Francisco International.

As part of the festivities surrounding the grand re-opening of SFO's Terminal 2 this week, Virgin America invited media and VIP's on a special flight out over the Pacific where we met up with the new Virgin Galactic spacecraft.

This shot was taken from a Virgin A320 looking down on Cronkite Beach, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

After flying over the Gate and then over the Bay, both aircraft landed in tandem at SFO. Spectacular! We then taxied to Terminal 2 where a big reception and tour awaited.

WhiteKnightTwo is the jet that carries Virgin Galactic’s passenger vehicle SpaceShipTwo into low earth orbit. In the pic below the spacecraft, VSS Enterprise, is nestled at the center in-between VMS Eve's two fuselages.

Virgin Group founder Richard Branson said he believed this is the first time a spacecraft has ever landed at a commercial airport.

Youtube: Virgin Galactic over San Francisco Bay

Comparison renders of SpaceShipOne and SpaceShipTwo:

SpaceShipTwo render:

In news relating the the SFO terminal reopening, this USA Today tidbit caught my eye:

SFO's T2 terminal will feature so-called "Hydration Stations" that allow passengers to fill reusable water bottles past security. That, of course, gives fliers a "non-purchase" option if they want water for their flights. But Virgin America -- one of T2's anchor tenants -- is also touting the green benefit of the Hydration Stations, saying they should help cut down on waste resulting from disposable plastic water bottles.

 

[CabbageRed]

Spaceships and water fountains? Absolute madness. Cannot be done.

 

[XiaNaphryz]

Spaceships and water fountains? Absolute madness.

I'm sure the TSA are scrambling as we speak.

 

[MattKeil]

Virgin Airlines is best airline.

 

[Clevinger]

This video shows what this ship does/will do

It's awesome. Watch it. I wish I was rich.

 

[Salmonax]

Virgin Airlines is best airline.

Without a doubt.

 

[Einbroch]

This is awesome. I'm in awe of what we as humans can accomplish.

 

[KO Traveling Hobo]

Make your peace. The end is nigh.

 

[Tornado Condor]

Virgin Galactic...WhiteKnight? This must be GAF's ship.

 

[Salvor.Hardin]

Every time I read VSS Enterprise I totally geek out. It's a fucking great name.

 

[Alucrid]

Virgin Galactic...WhiteKnight? This must be GAF's ship.

Oh you.

 

[XiaNaphryz]

Make your peace. The end is nigh.

Closeup of some of that cockpit art you're trying to zoom in on (from the plane, not the spacecraft in the middle):

 

[Cornballer]

The new terminal looks awesome.

 

[XiaNaphryz]

The new terminal looks awesome.

Hydration Station!

 

[Gallbaro]

The new terminal looks awesome.

And in 20 years, no matter how well maintained people will still say, "THAT was fashionable back then? What were they thinking?"

 

[Polari]

The whole Virgin Galactic thing seems like a bit of a dry hump. $200,000 for a couple of minutes in almost-space?

 

[Bulbo Urethral Baggins]

Closeup of some of that cockpit art you're trying to zoom in on (from the plane, not the spacecraft in the middle):

That's cockpit art alright

 

[tino]

This and the Dubai skyscraper are the few highlights of the recent years that make me think humanity is advancing forward.

 

[Clevinger]

The whole Virgin Galactic thing seems like a bit of a dry hump. $200,000 for a couple of minutes in almost-space?

200k is chump change for the clientele.

 

[Ad Infinitum]

one day...

 

[Al-ibn Kermit]

How much gravity is there 100 km up? That's only about 1/3 the way to the ISS.

 

[Clevinger]

How much gravity is there 100 km up? That's only about 1/3 the way to the ISS.

Not much gravity. In this video I posted you can see the guy throwing around something and it's floating around in the cockpit.

 

[Ignis Fatuus]

the Dubai skyscraper

Got bad news for you...

 

[Dan]

This and the Dubai skyscraper are the few highlights of the recent years that make me think humanity is advancing forward.

Some areas of progress have slowed, but others took the charge. Look at some of the things being done in the medical field, robotics, etc.