Gallery: Virgin Galactic's New Spaceship Puts It Back in the Space Race

  • This image may contain Building Hangar Vehicle Transportation Aircraft Airplane Human and Person
    Virgin Galactic
    01

    12751083-1679778558943575-523056366-n.jpg

    The new SpaceShipTwo.
  • Image may contain Building Hangar Vehicle Transportation Aircraft Airplane Human and Person
    Virgin Galactic
    02

    12716816-1555988071386392-365435661-n.jpg

    The new SpaceShipTwo.
  • null
    2016 Mark Greenberg/Virgin Galactic
    03

    Harrison-Ford-SS2-Cockpit.jpg

    Actor and Pilot Harrison Ford listens to Virgin Galactic chief pilot Dave Mackay inside the new SS2.
  • null
    2016 Mark Greenberg/Virgin Galactic
    04

    VSS-Unity-Reveal-1.jpg

  • Image may contain Adventure Leisure Activities Outdoors Nature Scenery Transportation Vehicle Aircraft and Airplane
    Virgin Galactic
    05

    Virgin5.jpg

    The first SpaceShipTwo, one of Virgin Galactic’s attempts at manufacturing a reusable spacecraft, in tests during a glide flight over the Mojave desert.
  • Image may contain Vehicle Transportation Airplane Aircraft Warplane Bomber Jet Animal Bird and Flying
    Virgin Galactic
    06

    Virgin4.jpg

    SpaceShipTwo, pictured attached to the WhiteKnightTwo, the aircraft that ferries the shuttle to launching altitude.
  • Image may contain Transportation Vehicle Airplane and Aircraft
    Virgin Galactic
    07

    Virgin2.jpg

    The SpaceShipTwo during its first supersonic powered flight.
  • Image may contain Transportation Vehicle Airplane Aircraft Bird Animal Flying Warplane and Bomber
    Virgin Galactic
    08

    Virgin6.jpg

    WhiteKnightTwo and the first SpaceShipTwo soaring over the Mojave Desert during a captive carry test flight.
  • Image may contain Adventure Leisure Activities Animal Bird Flying Transportation Vehicle Aircraft and Flight
    Virgin Galactic
    09

    Virgin1.jpg

    WhiteKnightTwo, pictured solo, on its first flight.
  • Image may contain Airport Airfield Vehicle Transportation Aircraft and Airplane
    Virgin Galactic
    10

    Virgin3.jpg

    WhiteKnightTwo and the first SpaceShipTwo taxi on the tarmac in preparation for take off.
  • Image may contain Building Hangar Transportation Vehicle Train and Factory
    John Francis Peters for WIRED
    11

    JohnFPeters-WIRED-VIRGIN-07-WEB1.jpg

    Construction of the new SpaceShipTwo in 2014.
  • Image may contain Building and Hangar
    John Francis Peters for WIRED
    12

    JohnFPeters-WIRED-VIRGIN-06-WEB1.jpg

    Construction of the new SpaceShipTwo in 2014.
  • Image may contain Building Hangar Human and Person
    John Francis Peters for WIRED
    13

    JohnFPeters-WIRED-VIRGIN-05-WEB1.jpg

    Construction of the new SpaceShipTwo in 2014.
Read More
Is the Electric Trike the Next Big Thing in Shared Micromobility?
Veo is launching accessibility-focused electric tricycles in Denver, with plans to put its e-trikes on the streets nationwide.
Boone Ashworth
What WIRED Writers Would Actually Give Their Moms
Your mom never gets you a thoughtless gift, so you shouldn’t get her one, either. Here’s every cool gift WIRED writers would give their mothers.
Nena Farrell
Which Apple Watch Should You Buy?
Should you splurge on the new Series 11, or will the SE 3 do? Let us help you figure out which version to get (and which to avoid).
Boutayna Chokrane
12 Adventurous Gifts for Hikers, Backpackers, and Outdoorsy People
Let them pick out their own hiking boots. Instead, try gifting a useful blade or a nature journal to delight your outdoorsy friend.
Scott Gilbertson
A Two-Person Startup Has Fixed One of the Most Hated Sounds in Modern Life
Beeeep. Beeeep. Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.
Jeremy White
Can the New York Times Save Journalism From Our AI Overlords?
In 2023, the Times sued OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement. They’ve since spent more than $20 million on the case, and publisher A.G. Sulzberger has no plans to stop fighting it.
Katie Drummond
Silicon Valley’s Next IPO Billionaires Are Coming. Nonprofits Are Ready for Them
Anthropic and OpenAI employees are expected to give generously after their companies go public. “It’s going to be a wild ride,” says one nonprofit leader.
Paresh Dave
The Dyson V16 Piston Animal Can Do It All
Dyson’s new stick vacuum can vacuum and mop in a single cordless device—if you’re willing to really splurge.
Nena Farrell
‘They’re Fucking a Lot of People’: 7-OH Users Brace for DEA Ban
The opioid-like compound, which is found in kratom, can cause brutal withdrawal symptoms and will soon be a controlled substance. Some users tell WIRED it has relieved their pain and anxiety.
Manisha Krishnan
An Extreme Solar Storm May Be Even More Devastating Than Previously Imagined
Scientists have long assumed that there’s an upper limit to the intensity of the solar winds that reach Earth. New research suggests there’s not—and the implications are alarming.
Javier Carbajal
Hugging Face Has a Deepfake Nudes Problem
Researchers tested top image editing models on Hugging Face and found they could easily create explicit deepfakes—and 1,000 image editing prompts show how people use the software.
Matt Burgess
Top Ulta Beauty Promo Codes: 50% Off
Shop the latest beauty trends and save big using an Ulta promo code for beauty tech, makeup, and more.
Boutayna Chokrane