NASA & Virgin Galactic to Explore Future Cooperation
NASA and Virgin Galactic announce a ground breaking and exciting agreement between the two parties to collaborate in future manned space technology.
In particular, NASA confirms its willingness to make available to Virgin Galactic the unique capabilities and world class facilities within the NASA Ames Research Centre in California.
The Memorandum of Understanding is exploratory in nature; it deals primarily with future technology cooperation and does not include, for example, any agreement to carry NASA astronauts on Virgin Galactic vehicles.
The major benefits of this agreement are likely to emerge in the technologies that evolve out of Virgin Galactic's current sub-orbital project, but it is of immediate significance for the following reasons:
This is a first and formal recognition of the mutual respect and close relationship that has developed between NASA and Virgin Galactic.
It is a ringing endorsement for the emerging commercial manned space industry and for Virgin Galactic in particular from the world's premier space agency.
The access to NASA Ames' capabilities and facilities further strengthens Virgin Galactic's leading market position and will support its twin objectives of safety and commercial viability. This is good news not just for Virgin Galactic but for our customers, our suppliers and for the industry as a whole.
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