Land Rover and Virgin Galactic announce global partnership extension

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 has been unveiled and is 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. Land Rover vehicles played key roles during Virgin Galactic'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 democratisation of space.

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