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VIRGIN GALACTIC AND LAND ROVER ANNOUNCE GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP EXTENSION AS NEW SPACESHIP IS REVEALED

30 March 2021

Range Rover Astronaut Edition supporting the reveal of Virgin Galactic’s new Spaceship VSS Imagine

  • Land Rover extends global partnership with Virgin Galactic to 2024
  • Latest spaceship roll‑out supported by Range Rover Astronaut Edition
  • Extension will result in a ten‑year partnership between two world leaders in adventure, innovation and exploration 
  • Land Rover will continue to support Virgin Galactic’s day‑to‑day operations

Land Rover has announced a three‑year extension to its global partnership with Virgin Galactic, the world’s first commercial ‘spaceline’. 

Virgin Galactic’s latest spaceship was unveiled today, supported by a Range Rover Astronaut Edition. Land Rover will remain an integrated part of Virgin Galactic’s day‑to‑day operations as the company completes test flights with ‘SpaceShipTwo’ and begins a regular commercial service.

Land Rover vehicles are part of daily life for the Virgin Galactic team, with roles which include towing the space vehicles, carrying equipment and clearing runways before take‑off. They played key roles during the company’s first two spaceflights which saw Virgin Galactic become the first private company to fly humans to space on a spaceship designed for commercial service. A fleet of Land Rovers also supported Virgin Galactic’s relocation from its manufacturing and test facilities in Mojave, California, to Spaceport America in New Mexico – the world’s first purpose‑built commercial spaceport.

Virgin Galactic has already signed‑up around 600 Future Astronaut customers, who will be transported to their flights from Spaceport America, in Land Rover vehicles.

In 2019, Virgin Galactic founder Sir Richard Branson and Jaguar Land Rover Chief Creative Officer Prof Gerry McGovern OBE unveiled the Range Rover Astronaut Edition. Created by Land Rover SV Bespoke and offered exclusively to Virgin Galactic Future Astronauts, these luxury SUVs celebrate the partnership’s shared values and the Future Astronaut community’s historic contribution to the democratization of space.

Virgin Galactic has a team of eight highly experienced pilots and is preparing for its next rocket‑powered flight in New Mexico. Founder Sir Richard Branson is planning to fly to space later in 2021.

Accessible space travel for explorers worldwide is the next great big adventure., Land Rover is proud to work alongside the Virgin Galactic team to support all future astronauts as they push the boundaries of personal adventure even further.

Joe Eberhardt
President and CEO, Jaguar Land Rover North America

Land Rover vehicles provide invaluable support on the ground in Mojave and at Spaceport America in New Mexico. It is also fabulous to see our Future Astronauts around the world enjoying the unique Range Rover Astronaut Edition. We are delighted to be able to extend this strong partnership. With a shared pioneering spirit, pursuit of adventure and vision to push the boundaries of travel, this is a natural collaboration between our two companies and one that will take exploration to new heights.

Michael Colglazier
Chief Executive Officer, Virgin Galactic

Notes to Editors

Information about Land Rover North America products is available to consumers at www.landroverusa.com. Visit  www.us.media.landrover.com for news releases, high‑resolution photographs and broadcast quality video footage. Additional media updates are available on Facebook (LandRoverUSA) and Twitter (@interactivelr).

 

About Land Rover

Founded in 1948, Land Rover designs, engineers, and manufactures its vehicles in the United Kingdom. For over 70 years the brand has built a reputation for providing its clientele with some of the most luxurious and capable vehicles in the world; whether driving through the heart of the city or traversing the countryside on‑ and off‑road. Today's Land Rover lineup includes the Defender; Discovery and Discovery Sport; Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Velar and Range Rover Evoque. Land Rover is fully engaged with sustainability initiatives and social concerns with continuous involvement in environmental and community programs. For more information, visit the official Land Rover website at www.landroverusa.com.

 

About Jaguar Land Rover

Jaguar Land Rover is the UK’s largest automotive manufacturer, built around two iconic British car brands: Land Rover, the world’s leading manufacturer of premium all‑wheel‑drive vehicles; and Jaguar, one of the world’s premier luxury sports sedan and sports car marques.

At Jaguar Land Rover we are driven by a desire to deliver class‑leading vehicles, providing experiences people love, for life. Our products are in demand around the globe and in 2020 we sold 425,974 vehicles in 127 countries.  

At heart we are a British company, with two major design and engineering sites, three vehicle manufacturing facilities, an Engine Manufacturing Centre and soon to be opened Battery Assembly Centre. We also have vehicle plants in China, Brazil, India, Austria and Slovakia. Three of our seven technology hubs are in the UK – Manchester, Warwick (NAIC) and London – with additional sites in Shannon, Ireland, Portland, USA, Budapest, Hungary and Changshu, China.

 

About Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. is a vertically integrated aerospace and space travel company, pioneering human spaceflight for private individuals and researchers, as well as a manufacturer of advanced air and space vehicles. It is developing a spaceflight system designed to offer customers a unique and transformative experience. You can find more information at https://www.virgingalactic.com/  

  • Today Virgin Galactic also unveiled the Company’s first Spaceship III in its growing fleet, VSS Imagine.
  • Imagine demonstrates progress toward efficient design and production, as Virgin Galactic works to scale the business for the long‑term.
  • One of Virgin Galactic’s Future Astronauts, Dee Chester, had a unique opportunity to play her part in the rollout of VSS Imagine, as her Astronaut Edition Range Rover towed the new spaceship out of the hangar for the first time.  
  • VSS Imagine will commence ground testing, with glide flights planned for this summer from Spaceport America in New Mexico.

Please find more information on the rollout of VSS Imagine and on Future Astronaut Dee Chester on the Virgin Galactic website: https://www.virgingalactic.com/news/

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