Virgin Galactic


Virgin Galactic

Press Release

Environmental Tectonics Corporation's NASTAR® Center Hosts Inaugural
Virgin Galactic Accredited Space Agent Global Forum

Southampton, PA: February 20, 2008 - Environmental Tectonics Corporation's National Aerospace Training and Research (NASTAR®) Center recently hosted 50 Virgin Galactic Accredited Space Agents (ASAs) from 14 countries for a two-day Forum designed to update them on the Virgin Galactic project and to give them in-depth knowledge of the new NASTAR Center Air and Space Adventure Programs. These exciting new programs are designed to be a "try before you buy" for prospective travelers onboard Virgin Galactic's suborbital space flights. NASTAR Center is the official training provider for Virgin Galactic who last month released the designs of the WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo at an event in New York City. Virgin Galactic will be the world's first commercial spaceline and provider of private suborbital spaceflights.

The Global ASA Forum hosted at the NASTAR Center was a two-day event of seminars and sub-orbital "space flights" in the NASTAR Center STS-400 Space Training Simulator. NASTAR Center's Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Glenn King stated, "It was a pleasure having the ASA's at the NASTAR Center. During their two-day visit, we provided over 50 Sub-Orbital flights. These flights validated our business model of providing sub-orbital flight training to the general population. Almost everyone now has a chance to experience what only a small number of astronauts have experienced. The dreams of commercial space flight are becoming a reality, and we're happy to be part of this historic event."

Virgin Galactic ASAs are now taking reservations for NASTAR Center's new Air and Space Adventure Programs that include aerial combat and space launch simulations, both with sustained G forces, real-world visuals and an authentically modeled cockpits and space cabins. Edward Rendell, Governor of Pennsylvania, expressed "In addition to learning more about the growing potential of space tourism, by attending today's forum you will join the ranks of those who have enjoyed the NASTAR Center's Sub-Orbital Space Flight Experience - the most realistic space experience available on Earth."

William F. Mitchell, President and Chairman of ETC, stated, "We are very pleased to be working with Virgin Galactic ASA's, who we anticipate will provide a significant amount of business for our new Air and Space Programs."

For a comprehensive list of ASAs around the world including contact details please visit http://www.virgingalactic.com/htmlsite/asa.php.

About NASTAR Center
NASTAR Center houses state-of-the-art equipment and professional staff to support the training and research needs of the aerospace community, including military aviation (fixed and rotary wing), civil aviation (fixed and rotary wing), space travel (government and private) and research support and data collection. NASTAR Center's equipment and programs are highly modular and flexible and can accommodate a wide range of aerospace training and research requirements.

About Virgin Galactic
Virgin Galactic is a company established by Richard Branson's Virgin Group to undertake the challenge of developing space tourism for everybody. It will own and operate privately built spaceships, modeled on the history-making SpaceShipOne craft. These spaceships will allow affordable sub-orbital space tourism for the first time in our history. Virgin Galactic will run as a business with the sole purpose of making space travel more and more affordable to people throughout the world. They will reinvest funds made over the first few years back into the business striving constantly to lower prices.

For more information about Virgin Galactic and ASAs please contact Carolyn Wincer, Head of Astronaut Sales at carolyn.wincer@virgingalactic.com.

Virtuoso are the exclusive retail travel agent network for Virgin Galactic in North America. For more information please contact Misty Ewing, Public Relations Director, at mewing@virtuoso.com.

Images and further information for press can be found at: -

http://www.virgingalactic.com/pressftp/index_full.php
www.nastarcenter.com/press

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