The Spaceship Company
Corporate brand
UnclaimedThe Spaceship Company is a spacecraft manufacturing company established to develop and produce vehicles for Virgin Galactic's suborbital spaceflight program.
Last updated August 24, 2026
Overview
The Spaceship Company (TSC) is a British-American aerospace manufacturing company created in 2005 by aircraft designer Burt Rutan and entrepreneur Richard Branson. It was established to own and industrialize technology developed by Scaled Composites for Virgin Galactic's planned commercial spaceflight system. The company was initially jointly owned by Virgin Group, which held 70 percent, and Scaled Composites, which held 30 percent. Virgin Galactic became the sole owner in 2012 after acquiring Scaled Composites' remaining stake. TSC's original manufacturing mission centered on the Virgin SpaceShip system: a reusable carrier aircraft, WhiteKnightTwo, designed to transport a passenger spacecraft to high altitude, and SpaceShipTwo, a winged, rocket-powered vehicle intended to carry passengers on suborbital flights. The program incorporated composite airframe construction, a feathered or care-free reentry configuration, and a hybrid rocket propulsion system licensed through technology associated with Mojave Aerospace and the work of Rutan and Paul Allen. Virgin Galactic was identified as the launch customer and initially ordered five SpaceShipTwo vehicles and two WhiteKnightTwo aircraft, while TSC also discussed supplying vehicles to other customers. The first carrier aircraft and first SpaceShipTwo were built by Scaled Composites. TSC's role was to transition the designs into a repeatable production and support operation. In 2010 the company announced that it was moving from prototype development toward commercial manufacturing. It established a dedicated final-assembly, integration and test facility at Mojave Air and Space Port in California. The 68,000-square-foot facility was designed for composite structural work, aircraft and spacecraft assembly, maintenance, and company operations. Construction was completed in 2011 at a reported cost of approximately US$8 million, according to contemporary company and reference reporting. TSC's best-known manufacturing project was VSS Unity, the second SpaceShipTwo vehicle. The company reported that construction was approximately half complete in 2014 and about 65 percent complete later that year. Virgin Galactic unveiled Unity in February 2016. TSC also showed additional SpaceShipTwo vehicles under construction in 2018, reflecting the intended production model for Virgin Galactic's fleet, although the planned second WhiteKnightTwo carrier had not been completed as of 2024. The company expanded substantially during the development period, growing from about 70 employees in 2011 to approximately 145 in 2013, 250 in 2014, and 430 in 2018, based on figures reported in reference material. Doug Shane, a former Scaled Composites executive, joined TSC in 2013 as executive vice president and general manager and became president in 2014. His appointment represented continuity between the prototype-development organization and TSC's manufacturing phase. Beyond Virgin Galactic's immediate spacecraft program, TSC participated with Virgin Galactic and Virgin Group in a 2016 collaboration with Boom Technology concerning a proposed supersonic passenger aircraft. The work included support for the XB-1, a one-third-scale demonstrator known as Baby Boom. TSC's broader strategic positioning was therefore as an aerospace design-transfer and manufacturing organization capable of producing advanced composite aircraft and spacecraft, rather than as a passenger-facing spaceflight operator. Its principal commercial identity remains tied to Virgin Galactic and the manufacture, testing, and support of vehicles for suborbital human spaceflight.
History
The Spaceship Company was formed in 2005 by Burt Rutan and Richard Branson to create a manufacturing organization for the spacecraft technology developed by Scaled Composites for Virgin Galactic. The original ownership structure gave Virgin Group a 70 percent interest and Scaled Composites a 30 percent interest. Virgin Galactic served as the planned launch customer for a reusable suborbital system consisting of SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnightTwo. Scaled Composites built the first carrier aircraft and spacecraft as prototypes. TSC was created to take responsibility for follow-on production, technology ownership, vehicle support, and potential sales to additional customers. The company described the system as combining a high-altitude carrier aircraft with a rocket-powered passenger spacecraft. SpaceShipTwo used a feathered reentry arrangement intended to simplify atmospheric reentry and a hybrid rocket motor, while the vehicles relied heavily on advanced composite construction. In 2010 TSC announced that it was moving the aircraft and spacecraft program into commercial production. It broke ground at Mojave Air and Space Port on a 68,000-square-foot assembly facility known as the Final Assembly, Integration and Test Hangar, or FAITH. The building was completed in 2011 and was intended to support composite spar and wing construction for WhiteKnightTwo, fuselage work for both vehicle types, major maintenance, and company administration. TSC announced plans to begin manufacturing additional carrier and spacecraft structures at the facility. The most prominent production vehicle was VSS Unity, the second SpaceShipTwo. TSC reported substantial progress on Unity during 2014, and Virgin Galactic rolled the vehicle out on February 19, 2016. Further spacecraft were subsequently shown under construction. The planned follow-on WhiteKnightTwo carrier, however, had not been completed as of 2024. These developments illustrate the difference between TSC's original production ambitions and the slower, technically demanding development path of Virgin Galactic's commercial spaceflight system. TSC grew rapidly during the 2010s. Reference material records approximately 70 employees in July 2011, 145 in June 2013, 250 in July 2014, and 430 in July 2018. In June 2013 Doug Shane joined as executive vice president and general manager after a long career at Scaled Composites, including service as that company's president. He became TSC president in July 2014. Virgin Galactic acquired Scaled Composites' 30 percent interest in 2012, making Virgin Galactic the sole owner of TSC. Scaled Composites had itself become part of Northrop Grumman, so the transaction also separated the manufacturing company from its original prototype-building parent. TSC continued to operate as a Virgin Galactic-linked aerospace manufacturing organization. The company also explored work beyond the immediate SpaceShipTwo program. In 2016 TSC, Virgin Galactic, and Virgin Group collaborated with Boom Technology on a proposed supersonic transoceanic passenger aircraft. The relationship included the XB-1, a one-third-scale demonstrator. TSC's core identity nevertheless remained the production and support of advanced composite aircraft and spacecraft for Virgin Galactic's suborbital human-spaceflight business.
- 2016
VSS Unity rollout
[1]Virgin Galactic unveils VSS Unity, the second SpaceShipTwo vehicle manufactured through TSC's production effort.
- 2016
Supersonic aircraft collaboration
[1]TSC collaborates with Boom Technology, Virgin Galactic, and Virgin Group on a proposed supersonic passenger aircraft program.
- 2012
Virgin Galactic takes full ownership
[1]Virgin Galactic purchases Scaled Composites' remaining 30 percent stake in TSC.
- 2011
FAITH facility completed
[1]The company completes its Mojave Air and Space Port final-assembly, integration and test hangar.
- 2010
Commercial production planned
[1]TSC announces that the WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo programs are moving from prototype construction toward commercial production.
- 2005
Company founded
[1]Burt Rutan and Richard Branson establish The Spaceship Company as a joint venture between Virgin Group and Scaled Composites.
Products and positioning
A specialized aerospace manufacturer focused on reusable composite spacecraft, carrier aircraft, and advanced vehicle production for commercial suborbital spaceflight.
Reusable suborbital spacecraft
SpaceShipTwo
A winged, rocket-powered spacecraft designed for commercial suborbital human spaceflight. SpaceShipTwo is carried to altitude beneath WhiteKnightTwo before being released for powered ascent. The vehicle uses a composite airframe, a hybrid rocket motor, and a feathered reentry configuration intended to manage the transition through the atmosphere. TSC manufactured follow-on vehicles for Virgin Galactic after the prototype was built by Scaled Composites.
Carrier aircraft
WhiteKnightTwo
A large, twin-fuselage carrier aircraft developed to transport SpaceShipTwo to launch altitude. WhiteKnightTwo is an essential part of Virgin Galactic's air-launch architecture and was designed as a reusable platform capable of carrying the spacecraft between its fuselages. The first aircraft was built by Scaled Composites, while TSC was assigned responsibility for follow-on production and additional aircraft.
SpaceShipTwo spacecraft · 2016
VSS Unity
The second SpaceShipTwo vehicle and TSC's most prominent completed production spacecraft. Construction was substantially advanced during 2014, and Virgin Galactic rolled Unity out in February 2016. It was built for Virgin Galactic's reusable suborbital passenger-flight system and represented the transition from the original prototype vehicle to a production-oriented spacecraft.
Supersonic aircraft demonstrator
XB-1 Baby Boom
A one-third-scale supersonic aircraft demonstrator associated with TSC's collaboration with Boom Technology, Virgin Galactic, and Virgin Group. The project extended TSC's composite aerospace manufacturing interests beyond suborbital spacecraft, although it was not the company's principal product line.
Brand decisions
2016
Expansion into supersonic aircraft collaborationStrategyBackground
TSC sought to apply its advanced composite aircraft and spacecraft manufacturing capabilities beyond Virgin Galactic's immediate suborbital vehicle program.
Action taken
TSC collaborated with Boom Technology, Virgin Galactic, and Virgin Group on a proposed supersonic transoceanic passenger aircraft and the XB-1 demonstrator.
Aftermath
The collaboration broadened TSC's publicly described technology interests, although its principal business remained tied to Virgin Galactic's spacecraft program.
2012
Virgin Galactic acquires full ownershipM&ABackground
TSC was originally jointly owned by Virgin Group and Scaled Composites, but the manufacturing business was intended to operate as part of Virgin Galactic's commercial spaceflight strategy.
Action taken
Virgin Galactic acquired Scaled Composites' remaining minority stake and became TSC's sole owner.
Aftermath
The company continued as a Virgin Galactic-controlled spacecraft manufacturing organization, while Scaled Composites no longer retained an ownership interest.
2010
Shift from prototypes to productionStrategyBackground
The first WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo vehicles had been constructed by Scaled Composites, while Virgin Galactic required additional vehicles for its planned commercial operations.
Action taken
TSC announced plans to industrialize construction and build additional carrier aircraft and spacecraft at its Mojave facility.
Aftermath
The company established a dedicated production facility and undertook construction of VSS Unity and additional planned spacecraft.
Recent events
- 2018
Additional SpaceShipTwo vehicles are shown under construction[1]
Product generation
TSC published material showing two further spacecraft under construction after VSS Unity, consistent with Virgin Galactic's plan to develop a production fleet.
- 2016
TSC unveils VSS Unity[1]
Product launch · Product generation
Virgin Galactic rolled out VSS Unity, the second SpaceShipTwo vehicle, after its construction by The Spaceship Company.
- 2016
TSC collaborates on the Boom supersonic demonstrator[1]
Other
The Spaceship Company joined Virgin Galactic and Virgin Group in work with Boom Technology on a proposed supersonic passenger aircraft program, including the XB-1 demonstrator.
- 2014
Doug Shane becomes president[1]
Leadership change
Doug Shane, who had joined TSC from Scaled Composites in 2013, was appointed president as the company advanced production of Virgin Galactic's second SpaceShipTwo.
- 2012
Virgin Galactic becomes sole owner of The Spaceship Company[1]
M&A
Virgin Galactic acquired Scaled Composites' remaining minority interest, ending the original joint-ownership structure.
- 2011
TSC opens its Mojave final-assembly facility[1]
Product launch
The company completed a dedicated facility at Mojave Air and Space Port for composite fabrication, vehicle assembly, integration, testing, maintenance, and operations.
- 2010
The Spaceship Company announces transition to commercial production[1]
Other
After prototype construction by Scaled Composites, TSC stated that the WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo designs were moving into a commercial manufacturing phase.
- 2005
The Spaceship Company is founded to manufacture Virgin Galactic vehicles[1]
Other
Burt Rutan and Richard Branson established The Spaceship Company as a joint venture between Scaled Composites and Virgin Group to own and produce technology for Virgin Galactic's planned suborbital spacecraft system.
Sources1 sources
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