Land Rover Helps Virgin Galactic Unveil Its Latest Spaceship

Land Rover and Virgin Galactic, the first commercial “spaceline,” will continue to work together until 2024, the two brands announced today.

The announcement was made on the occasion of the roll-out of Virgin Galactic’s latest spaceship, which a Range Rover Astronaut Edition pulled out of its hangar. Called the VSS Imagine, it’s the first of Virgin’s next generation of spaceships.

The new ship is more modular than the last and is based on everything the company has learned from its previous vessels. The spaceline has already signed up 600 passengers for its flights, which will be run out of Spaceport America in New Mexico.

“Accessible space travel for explorers worldwide is the next great big adventure,” Joe Eberhardt, JLR North America CEO. “Land Rover is proud to work alongside the Virgin Galactic team to support all future astronauts as they push the boundaries of personal adventure even further.”

Along with towing spaceships out of hangers, Range Rovers also help Virgin Galactic carry equipment and clear runways before takeoff. The two companies have been working together since 2014, meaning their partnership will have lasted a decade when this latest commitment comes to an end.

Read Also: Range Rover Astronaut Edition Can Be Yours As Long As You Go To Space

The Range Rover Astronaut Edition features Zero Gravity Blue paint that was inspired by the effects of the night sky and “Virgin Galactic” puddle lamps. Inside, there’s a “DNA of Flight” logo and a custom cup holder made out of the spaceship’s front landing skid.

Unfortunately, interested parties may have to consider a career change if they want one at home because it’s exclusively available to members of the Virgin Galactic Astronaut community.

Fortunately for Richard Branson, that means that he’ll be entitled to one soon. The Virgin Galactic founder plans to fly the ship to space later in 2021. The next flight test, meanwhile, is expected to take place in May.