posted 10-15-2011 07:31 PM               

As Virgin Galactic's vice president of operations, Moses will set up and oversee the company's commercial suborbital spaceflight services. Virgin's first ship, called SpaceShipTwo, is undergoing flight tests at manufacturer Scaled Composites' Mojave, California, base. A trial run beyond the atmosphere is expected next year.

Moses, 43, will be relocating from Houston to Mojave, then to Virgin Galactic's commercial space base near Las Cruces, N.M, where a spaceport is under construction.

posted 10-17-2011 11:31 AM               

Virgin Galactic Appoints Former NASA Executive as Vice President of Operations

Virgin Galactic is pleased to announce the appointment of former NASA executive Michael P. Moses as Vice President of Operations. Days prior to the dedicating the company's operational headquarters at Spaceport America in New Mexico, Virgin has named the highly respected human space flight leader to oversee the planning and execution of all operations at the site of the company's commercial suborbital spaceflight program.

Following a distinguished career in NASA's recently-retired space shuttle program, Moses brings to Virgin Galactic a proven record of safe, successful and secure human spaceflight missions, spaceport operations, and human spaceflight program leadership.

He served at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida as the Launch Integration Manager from 2008 until the landing of the final Shuttle mission in July 2011. He was responsible for supervising all space shuttle processing activities from landing through launch, and for reviewing major milestones including final readiness for flight.

He also served as chair of the Mission Management Team and provided ultimate launch decision authority for the final 12 missions of the shuttle program, directly overseeing the safe and successful flights of 75 astronauts.

Moses will develop and lead the team responsible for Virgin Galactic spaceship operations and logistics, flight crew operations, customer training, and spaceport ground operations, with overall operational safety and risk management as the primary focus.

"Bringing Mike in to lead the team represents a significant investment in our commitment to operational safety and success as we prepare to launch commercial operations," said Virgin Galactic President and CEO, George Whitesides. "His experience and track record in all facets of spaceflight operations are truly unique. His forward-thinking perspective to bring the hard-won lessons of human spaceflight into our operations will benefit us tremendously."

Prior to his most recent NASA role, Moses served as a Flight Director at the NASA Johnson Space Center where he led teams of Flight Controllers in the planning, training and execution of all aspects of Space Shuttle missions. Before being selected as a Flight Director in 2005, Moses had over 10 years experience as a Flight Controller in the Shuttle Propulsion and Electrical Systems Groups.

Moses said, "I am extremely excited to be joining Virgin Galactic at this time, helping to forge the foundations that will enable routine commercial suborbital spaceflights. Virgin Galactic will expand the legacy of human spaceflight beyond traditional government programs into the world's first privately funded commercial spaceline."

Moses holds a bachelors degree in Physics from Purdue University, a masters degree in space sciences from the Florida Institute of Technology and a masters degree in aerospace engineering from Purdue University. He is a two-time recipient of the Outstanding Leadership Medal as well as other NASA commendations and awards.

posted 10-13-2016 11:45 AM               

Virgin Galactic Promotes Mike Moses to President

Decorated NASA Veteran to Lead Virgin Galactic's Human Spaceflight Program

Virgin Galactic, the privately funded space company owned by Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Abu Dhabi's Aabar Investments PJS, is pleased to announce the promotion of Michael P. Moses to President. Moses, who joined Virgin Galactic in 2011 as Vice President of Operations, will now oversee Virgin Galactic's human spaceflight program, reporting directly to Virgin Galactic CEO George T. Whitesides.

Mike joined Virgin Galactic after a decorated career at NASA, where he served as a flight controller, Flight Director, and ultimately as the Space Shuttle Launch Integration Manager. In that role, he led all space shuttle operations from landing through launch for the final dozen flights of NASA's space shuttle program. For his services, Mike was twice recognized with the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, one of the space agency's most prestigious medals. Mike has also received both the Distinguished Science Alumni and the Outstanding Aerospace Engineer awards from Purdue University, among many other commendations.

Speaking today at the International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight in Las Cruces, Moses said, "I'm incredibly honored to be leading the fantastic women and men of our company, who continue to push so diligently to open the space frontier. I've been very fortunate in my career to play a part in safely sending many NASA astronauts to space. At Virgin Galactic, with our great vehicles and our fantastic team, I know we'll get the chance to send not just tens but hundreds and thousands of people into space."

Virgin Galactic's vehicles include the reusable SpaceShipTwo (VSS Unity) and its air launch carrier vehicle WhiteKnightTwo (VMS Eve), with construction of additional SpaceShipTwo vehicles underway at Virgin Galactic's manufacturing arm, The Spaceship Company.

Virgin Galactic CEO George T. Whitesides added. "Not only is Mike a well-respected member of the space community, but his leadership within our own company has been critical to our success in building a world-class organization and team. I am excited about the work ahead and look forward to helping make it possible for many more humans to reach space and experience our home planet from above."