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WhiteKnightTwo makes its first public debut at Air Venture

Here’s a heads up from New Mexico’s Spaceport America.

Virgin Galactic’s mothership – VMS Eve – is slated to carry out two flights today over Las Cruces and Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.

“The flights are held as part of a series of readiness exercises ahead of Virgin Galactic’s first rocket powered flight from Spaceport America expected this Fall,” according to a statement from Spaceport America.

Credit: Virgin Galactic

Two overflights

The first flight was due to take-off from Spaceport America around 8am. Part of the planned flight path for this flight will see VMS Eve fly near Truth or Consequences and Las Cruces, and should afford residents an opportunity to spot the aircraft flying.

Credit: Spaceport America

The second flight will depart later in the afternoon and will be flown at a higher altitude so will not be visible from the ground.

Educational materials

The teams at Spaceport America, Virgin Galactic and Galactic Unite have put together educational material to accompany the flight and encourage students in both cities to go outside to spot the aircraft in the skies and share their experience with their classes and on social media.

The materials have been shared with the school districts in both cities and can be downloaded from:

https://www.spaceportamerica.com/education/