Next-generation spaceship

Why it matters

Suborbital tourism only works as a business if each vehicle flies often. The new ship is the company's bet on making flights frequent enough to cover costs, and its first service date has already slipped to 2027.

How the technology works

A carrier aircraft lifts the spaceship and releases it at about 45,000 feet. A hybrid rocket motor then pushes it to three times the speed of sound into suborbital space, where passengers unstrap, float and look back at Earth.

Flights are run from Spaceport America in New Mexico.