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Virgin Galactic Plans As Many As 400 Launches A Year

Tustin-based space tourism company Virgin Galactic said on Wednesday that it has contracted with Aurora Flight Sciences, to build two new vehicles capable of sending people to space as many as 200 times each in a year. According to Virgin Galactic, Aurora will partner in the design and manufacturing of "next generation motherships", which will carry its spaceships to an altitude of approximately 50,000 feet before launch. Financial details of the deal between the two companies was not announced. Virgin Galactic said Aurora plans to manufacture the aircraft at its Columbus, Mississippi and Bridgeport, West Virginia facilities, with final assembly of the motherships will be completed at the Virgin Galactic facility in Mojave, California.