Virgin Galactic Mothership

In production

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Twin hulled high altitude launch platform for SpaceShipTwo, SpaceShip III, or Virgin Space Ships (VSS). Formerly known as Scaled Composites Model 348 WhiteKnightTwo, then The Spaceship Company WhiteKnightTwo.

Photo: Virgin Galactic

Lift type

Fixed wing

Assembly

Factory-built

Control

Piloted

Engine type

Turbofan

Application

Experimental

Design & construction

The aircraft as engineered: what it is built from, the systems it flies with, and its configuration — each box a theme.

Airframe & structure

Primary structure

Composite

Wing

Composite

Landing gear

Retractable tricycle

Ice protection

None

Pressurisation

Pressurised

Systems & avionics

Autopilot

3-axis

Avionics architecture

Integrated glass suite

Environmental control

Engine-bleed air-cycle

Configuration & certification

Wing position

Mid

Planform

Straight

continued

Tail

H-tail

Minimum crew

Technical reference compiled with AI research; a value appears only where two independent research passes and a web fact-check agree. Gaps are deliberate.

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Type variants

Variant	Launch / first flight	Production end	Notes
The Spaceship Company WhiteKnightTwo	2008 / 2008		Flying spaceplane carrier aircraft, also developed as Virgin Galactic Virgin MotherShip VMS Eve.
Virgin Galactic Next Generation Mothership	2022 /		Upgraded and modernised variant.

Airframer

The Spaceship Company	News	Manufacturing subsidiary of Virgin Galactic
Virgin Galactic	News

Other aircraft programs

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The program’s dated history — milestones, contracts, supplier selections and facilities, each linked to its source. Log in to view.

Information on this page is compiled from a variety of published sources; links do not necessarily imply recommendation or confirmation by the airframe manufacturer.