• US actor Harrison Ford poses with a life-size cardboard cutout of Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson after the unveiling ceremony of Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTWO. EPA
    US actor Harrison Ford poses with a life-size cardboard cutout of Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson after the unveiling ceremony of Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTWO. EPA
  • The company underscored that commercial space flights would not be available until Virgin Galactic was satisfied it could carry them out safely. Lucy Nicholson / Reuters
    The company underscored that commercial space flights would not be available until Virgin Galactic was satisfied it could carry them out safely. Lucy Nicholson / Reuters
  • The company’s goal is to take customers to the edge of space, more than 62 miles above Earth. Lucy Nicholson / Reuters
    The company’s goal is to take customers to the edge of space, more than 62 miles above Earth. Lucy Nicholson / Reuters
  • Richard Branson (centre) poses with his mother Eve (centre, right)) and future astronauts after unveiling the new SpaceShipTwo. Reuters
    Richard Branson (centre) poses with his mother Eve (centre, right)) and future astronauts after unveiling the new SpaceShipTwo. Reuters
  • Virgin Group founder Richard Branson thanks Virgin Galactic workers during the unveiling ceremony. EPA
    Virgin Group founder Richard Branson thanks Virgin Galactic workers during the unveiling ceremony. EPA
  • Despite the hefty $250,000 price tag, more than 600 would-be astronauts have already signed up, including Hollywood actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Ashton Kutcher. Mark Terrill / AP Photo
    Despite the hefty $250,000 price tag, more than 600 would-be astronauts have already signed up, including Hollywood actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Ashton Kutcher. Mark Terrill / AP Photo
  • Testing on the SpaceShipTwo, which Mr Branson said was constructed by a team of 650 engineers, will begin with the electrical system and moving parts, followed by flights attached to the WhiteKnightTwo mothership before progressing to glide testing. EPA
    Testing on the SpaceShipTwo, which Mr Branson said was constructed by a team of 650 engineers, will begin with the electrical system and moving parts, followed by flights attached to the WhiteKnightTwo mothership before progressing to glide testing. EPA
  • The new craft may one day carry six passengers on three-hour suborbital flights, offering them the possibility of momentary weightlessness and unparalleled views of Earth. EPA
    The new craft may one day carry six passengers on three-hour suborbital flights, offering them the possibility of momentary weightlessness and unparalleled views of Earth. EPA
  • Wreckage lies near the site where a Virgin Galactic space tourism rocket, SpaceShipTwo, crashed in the desert near Mojave, California in 2014. One of the two pilots aboard was killed. Ringo HW Chiu / AP Photo
    Wreckage lies near the site where a Virgin Galactic space tourism rocket, SpaceShipTwo, crashed in the desert near Mojave, California in 2014. One of the two pilots aboard was killed. Ringo HW Chiu / AP Photo

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Abu Dhabi-backed Virgin Galactic shows off new passenger spaceship – in pictures

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The new spaceship, which largely looks the same as its predecessor, made its debut in a ceremony at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California.

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