posted 11-08-2013 10:01 AM               

If all the flight tests proceed according to plan, that inaugural passenger spaceflight could take off from New Mexico's Spaceport America during a special edition of NBC's TODAY show next August, said Sharon Scott, president and general manager of Peacock Productions.

"They are hoping for August, but it's completely engineering-driven," Scott told NBC News in advance of Friday's announcement on TODAY. "There's no guarantee for that. August is the desire."

...so far, SpaceShipTwo has been flown through more than two dozen glide flights — plus two rocket-powered test outings, in April and September. Another powered test is expected within a month. SpaceShipTwo's test pilots plan to start crossing the 100-kilometer-high (62-mile-high) boundary of outer space "by early next year," Branson said on TODAY.

posted 11-08-2013 10:03 AM               

NBCUniversal Announces Exclusive Partnership with Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic to Televise First Commercial Flight To Space

"TODAY" to Broadcast Virgin Galactic's Historic First Commercial Spaceflight LIVE Featuring Sir Richard Branson and His Children

NBCUniversal today announced an exclusive multi-platform partnership with Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic, the world's first commercial spaceline, to televise the inaugural commercial space flight of SpaceShipTwo. Next year, Sir Richard and his children, Holly and Sam, will be the first private passengers to travel into space on SpaceShipTwo from Virgin Galactic's terminal at Spaceport America in New Mexico. NBC News' award-winning Peacock Productions will chronicle the journey across a myriad of NBCUniversal brands and platforms including MSNBC, CNBC, SYFY, The Weather Channel and NBCNews.com, culminating in a primetime special airing on NBC the night before launch, and a 3-hour live event on "TODAY," hosted by Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie.

"Without a doubt, Sir Richard and his children taking the first commercial flight into space will go down in history as one of the most memorable events on television," said Sharon Scott, President and General Manager, Peacock Productions. "Through NBCUniversal's multiple platforms and overseas network partners, viewers from around the world will get to experience this where were you moment; we're extremely honored to chronicle Sir Richard's journey and live launch into space."

"Virgin Galactic is thrilled that NBCUniversal will join us on our exciting first journey to space," said Sir Richard. "In this first chapter of commercial space travel, we will help make space accessible and inspire countless more people to join us in the pursuit of space exploration and science innovation."