CNN's Rachel Crane gained unprecedented access to a secure California factory where Virgin Galactic's tourism spaceships are under construction. Click through the gallery for a rare inside look at how these amazing machines are put together at this off-limits facility.
SpaceShipTwo: Unprecedented access —
CNN's Rachel Crane gained unprecedented access to a secure California factory where Virgin Galactic's tourism spaceships are under construction. Click through the gallery for a rare inside look at how these amazing machines are put together at this off-limits facility.
Brandon Ancil/CNN
It's called SpaceShipTwo, Series Two. Workers assemble one of the newest Virgin Galactic spacecraft, which is expected to fly tourist passengers about 60 miles high to sub-orbital space sometime in 2015.
SpaceShipTwo: Unprecedented access —
It's called SpaceShipTwo, Series Two. Workers assemble one of the newest Virgin Galactic spacecraft, which is expected to fly tourist passengers about 60 miles high to sub-orbital space sometime in 2015.
Brandon Ancil/CNN
Technicians use sheets of super-strong, lightweight carbon composite materials for a process that reinforces the spaceship's fuselage.
SpaceShipTwo: Unprecedented access —
Technicians use sheets of super-strong, lightweight carbon composite materials for a process that reinforces the spaceship's fuselage.
Brandon Ancil/CNN
SpaceShipTwo is full of windows. In addition to the pilots' windows seen here, each of the spacecraft's six passengers will have access to side windows and windows overhead.
SpaceShipTwo: Unprecedented access —
SpaceShipTwo is full of windows. In addition to the pilots' windows seen here, each of the spacecraft's six passengers will have access to side windows and windows overhead.
Brandon Ancil/CNN
When the spacecraft is complete, it will look very similar to this SpaceShipTwo seen gliding over Mojave, California, in 2010. Virgin Galactic says its first commercial flights could begin as soon as this year.
SpaceShipTwo: Unprecedented access —
When the spacecraft is complete, it will look very similar to this SpaceShipTwo seen gliding over Mojave, California, in 2010. Virgin Galactic says its first commercial flights could begin as soon as this year.
Mark Greenberg/Virgin Galactic/Getty Images