Richard Branson chooses Puglia to launch Virgin Galactic rockets in space

Virgin Galactic announced the partnership with two aerospace companies to collaborate in space launches since Italy

The agreement, close with SITAEL and ALTEC owned by the Italian Space Agency and Thale Alenia Space relates to the next two years: the goal is actually to structure the Virgin Galactic vehicle launch activities in the area port of Grottaglie, in Taranto in Apulia . The port area, can be used by individuals whose area of ​​interest is space travel for business, or by subjects of different types (including the Italian Space Agency) for scientific research .

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At the beginning of this year, ENAC designated the Taranto-Grottaglie Airport as a future space launch site for spacecraft in Italy. In this sense, the presence of Virgin Galactic in the Apulian spaceport justifies the development of investments in the aeronautical sector and flees the exclusive tourist vocation of Apulia. Virgin Galactic's headquarters will remain operational at Spaceport America in New Mexico

The first astronaut launched from Italian soil

"This partnership could see Virgin Galactic launch for the first time a perennial plant Italian soil – and indeed any European territory, "said in a statement the founder of the group Virgin, Sir Richard Branson .

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Virgin Galactic belongs to Virgin Group and Aabar Investments PJS . There are also two sister companies, Virgin Orbit which focuses on launching small satellites into space using its LauncherOne orbital launch and its production arm, The Spaceship Company . 19659002] LISE ALSO: ASI Launches the First Space Starter Accelerator in Matera

Virgin Galactic tests a reusable space launch system. SpaceShipTwo and its airline, WhiteKnightTwo, are produced and tested in Mojave, California, by The Spaceship Company. In recent months, Virgin Galactic has conducted two test flights with SpaceShipTwo, the pbadenger spacecraft, which could one day take tourists to the edge of space.