Range Rover Helps Unveil New Virgin Galactic SpaceshipTwo At Global Reveal And Naming Ceremony

19 February 2016

Land Rover today helped Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson unveil Virgin Galactic’s new SpaceShipTwo at a special reveal and naming ceremony at their Mojave Air and Space Port base in California, USA.

  • Land Rover's partnership with Virgin Galactic celebrated as Range Rover Autobiography tows new SpaceShipTwo at global reveal and naming event
  • Sir Richard Branson on board the luxury SUV as it tows the new spaceship named  VSS Unity, by Professor Stephen Hawking,  at the Mojave Air and Space Port event in California, USA
  • A fleet of Land Rover vehicles currently provides valuable support for the Virgin Galactic team at its base in Mojave and Spaceport America in New Mexico and will play a key role  of the  for future astronauts once Virgin Galactic starts commercial operations.
  • Land Rover and Virgin Galactic announced their partnership in April 2014 based on a shared purpose that business can be a force for good
  • The companies are developing a number of STEM education programmes to inspire the next generation of engineers
  • CLICK HERE to watch the new Virgin Galactic SpaceshipTwo reveal and naming ceremony

Mojave, California USA, 13.30 PST, 19th February 2016: Land Rover today helped Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson unveil Virgin Galactic's new SpaceShipTwo at a special reveal and naming ceremony at their Mojave Air and Space Port base in California, USA.

A Range Rover Autobiography, the pinnacle of premium SUV luxury, took centre stage at the global reveal, towing out the new SpaceShipTwo ‑ officially christened VSS Unity ‑ in front of the world's media, special guests and a group of Virgin Galactic's 'Future Astronauts.'

Guests at the unveiling ceremony including Virgin Galactic's stakeholders, VIP guests and Future Astronaut customers, watched on as Sir Richard arrived in the Range Rover and the new SpaceShipTwo made its global debut. The event also marked the special official naming moment of the new SpaceShipTwo, with Stephen Hawking announcing the name VSS Unity via a specially recorded message.

Announced in April 2014, the tow‑out of VSS Unity by a Range Rover Autobiography marks the latest milestone in the partnership between the two pioneering brands; a partnership based around a strong British heritage and a true spirit of adventure, but underpinned by a desire to push the boundaries of technical innovation.

A fleet of Land Rover vehicles currently provides valuable support for the Virgin Galactic team at its base in Mojave, and will be an important part of its commercial operations for future astronauts at Spaceport America in New Mexico

Stephen Attenborough, Commercial Director at Virgin Galactic, said: "Since our partnership began in April 2014, Land Rover has become an integral part of the team's day to day operating environment in Mojave. Therefore it was fitting that the Range Rover Autobiography took a staring role in today's events as our new SpaceShipTwo, Unity, made its global debut. We're looking forward to more collaborations across the business including STEM programmes as well as engineering, design and product initiatives."

Mark Cameron, Global Brand Experience Director at Land Rover, said: "This is a significant milestone for Virgin Galactic, and we are proud to be part of it. Helping the team unveil the new SpaceShipTwo not only reflects our supporting role in the Virgin Galactic programme, but it was also an impressive display of the Range Rover's towing capability. But we have partnered with Virgin Galactic for many more reasons than simply providing and promoting a fantastic range of SUVs.  We share the same long‑term vision to invest in innovative design and technology to help us go further and achieve more. Not simply to enable mankind to explore, but to develop this partnership to inspire others.   From our tens of thousands of employees and customers to schools and colleges, motivating more young people to pursue careers in engineering, science and technology ‑ and explore new ways of travelling for future generations. This is a very special match of brands based around a shared vision."

Both Land Rover and Virgin Galactic run significant and highly regarded community relations and STEM education programmes, which encourage young people to aspire to a future in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

2015 marked the 21st anniversary of the Range Rover Autobiography, the pinnacle of the Range Rover model line‑up. Across two decades Autobiography has denoted the ultimate combination of Land Rover design, capability and luxury, adapting with changing customer tastes and preferences to remain a benchmark in the premium SUV market.   

https://youtu.be/Z8E2aw0oyOM

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

LAND ROVER AND VIRGIN GALACTIC
Land Rover and Virgin Galactic announced their global partnership in April 2014 against the backdrop of SpaceShipTwo, the world's first commercial passenger carrying spacecraft, together with Land Rover's new Discovery Vision Concept vehicle. 

The partnership demonstrates a shared vision of pioneering spirit, technological innovation and sense of adventure, and illustrates a desire to push the boundaries of travel for the next generation.
www.landrover.com/experiences/sponsorship/virgin‑galactic‑partnership.html

Land Rover  
Since 1948 Land Rover has been manufacturing authentic 4x4s that represent true 'breadth of capability' across the model range. Defender, Discovery, Discovery Sport, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque each define the world's 4x4 sectors, with 80.

For further information log onto www.uk.media.landrover.com or contact:

Kim Palmer
Public Relations Manager, Land Rover UK
T: 02476 564 129
M: 07795 666 169
E: kpalmer@landrover.com

Tracey Tompsett
Senior Press Officer, Land Rover UK
T: 02476 565 210
M: 07469 032 064
E: ttompset@landrover.com

Rebecca Wright
Press Officer, Land Rover UK
T: 02476 566 334
M: 07469 025162
E: rwright4@landrover.com

Editors Note:

‑         Since 1948 Land Rover has been manufacturing authentic 4x4s that represent true breadth of capability across the model range. Discovery, Discovery Sport, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Evoque each define the world's 4x4 sectors. Land Rover products are currently sold in approximately 180 global markets.

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