Virgin Galactic Founding Astronaut Jackie MawHi and thanks for visiting my website - great to see you!

I’m Jackie Maw – Founding Astronaut with Virgin Galactic and soon to be New Zealand’s first female in space.

Like our new website so far? We’re still smoothing down the edges and adding more content so bear with us, but when it’s finished we’re sure you’ll love what you see!

Virgin Galactic’s mission is very much on track and with the unveil of SpaceShip2, we really are counting down the days to the first flights.

While you’re here, check out my Astronaut Training at SpaceGirl TV and the lastest news from Mission Control. You can also keep up with me on Twitter and Facebook, so call in for a visit. In the meantime, stay tuned and buckle up as my space journey continues…

From the Newsdesk

Virgin Galactic Unveils First Tourist Spaceship

December 8, 2009—Aspiring space tourists got a first look at their future ride late Monday, when Virgin Galactic unveiled the first of its long-awaited SpaceShipTwo planes.

New Zealand, we are go for space.

At 2.30pm today, scientist Peter Beck uttered the phrase he will be forever known for:

“New Zealand, we are go for space.”

Seconds later, his long-held dream came true as the Atea-1 rocket lifted off Great Mercury Island and soared towards space.

Fellow space fan and Rocket Lab director Mark Rocket thrust his fist in the air and close to 50 people gathered among rocks about 500 metres from the launch site broke into cheers as a glow began at the tail of the rocket just before it shot into the low clouds.

Space hotel on schedule to open in 2012

A company behind plans to open the first hotel in space says it is on target to accept its first paying guests in 2012 despite critics questioning the investment and time frame for the multi-billion dollar project. Read More

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