The Scaled Composites Model 348 WhiteKnightTwo (WK2) is a jet-powered carrier aircraft which will be used to launch the SpaceShipTwo spacecraft. It is being developed by Scaled Composites as the first stage of Tier 1b, a two-stage to suborbital-space manned launch system. WK2 is based on the successful mothership to SpaceShipOne, White Knight, which itself is based on Proteus.

Virgin Galactic has ordered two WK2s. Together WK2 and SS2 form the basis for Virgin Galactic's fleet of suborbital spaceplanes.

The first WK2 is named VMS Eve after Richard Branson's mother; it was officially unveiled on July 28, 2008, and flew for the first time on December 21, 2008. The second is expected to be named VMS Spirit of Steve Fossett after Branson's close friend Steve Fossett.


WhiteKnightTwo is roughly three times larger than White Knight, in order to perform a captive carry with the larger SpaceShipTwo spacecraft. The WK2 is similar in wingspan to a B-29 Superfortress. Despite that comparison, White Knight Two is a thoroughly modern aircraft - even the flight control cables are constructed of carbon fiber, using a new patented design.

WK2 will provide preview flights offering several seconds of weightlessness, before the actual suborbital event. It is intended to have a service ceiling of about 60,000 ft (18 km), offering a dark blue sky to passengers. This will allow tourists to practice before the real flight.

WhiteKnightTwo consists of a twin boom with two jet engines per hull.[8] One hull is an exact replica of that of SpaceShipTwo (to allow tourist training), and the other will carry cut-rate day-trippers into the stratosphere.

The design is quite different from the White Knight, both in size, use of tail, engine configuration and placement of cockpit(s). The White Knight uses two T-tails, but the WhiteKnightTwo uses two cruciform tails. Engine configuration is also very different, with engines hung underneath the wings on the WhiteKnightTwo as opposed to engines on either side of the sole cockpit on the White Knight.

General characteristics

* Payload: 17,000 kg to 50000 ft.; 200 kg satellite to LEO(test)
* Length: 24 m (79 ft)
* Wingspan: 43 m (141 ft)
* Powerplant: 4? Pratt & Whitney Canada PW308 turbofan

Performance

* Service ceiling: 21.3 km (70000 ft)

My first attempt at the Joel Grimes Style of gritty composite portraits. Danielle was shot in studio on a grey seamless and the bkgd is a 3 shot HDR taken in an alley in Philadelphia. I still need to work on my masking a bit but I was fairly pleased with this outcome.

Strobist: 2 Profoto acute heads in Strip boxes with 40degree grids right and left of camera and behind model as rim with an 18" beauty dish directly overhead on a profoto monolight. Triggered with pocketwizards.