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11.12.09
Hurricane Provides Dramatic End to Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Event
Hurricane
At the start of a dramatic week of weather right across the US, hurricane force winds hit Mojave Air and Spaceport CA on the evening of Monday 7th December, tearing apart a specially created site which had been used throughout the day to house guests attending the first roll out of Virgin Galactic’s new spaceship…
Along with Sir Richard Branson and spaceship designer Burt Rutan, over 800 press, future astronauts and VIP guests including Governors Bill Richardson and Arnold Schwarzenegger, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie and Victoria Principal had gathered in the desert to witness the roll out of the world’s first commercial manned spaceship. Standing at the end of the runway, guests braved gale force winds and stormy weather, to see SpaceShipTwo for the first time. The spaceship was carried down the runway as snow fell, by her mothership, VMS Eve, to a spectacular display of lights and music.
With the spaceship officially named VSS Enterprise by Governors Schwarzenegger and Richardson, the celebrations began. Minutes later guests were stunned to hear that a mass evacuation had been called by local officials who had become aware of the approaching storm. Sir Richard Branson said: “It was absolutely incredible, the roll out of the spaceship had been fantastic and everybody was filled with terrific energy. We were all in the tents when the evacuation was called. 20 minutes after the last of the 800 guests had been coached away, the main 200ft tent literally took off”. Gusts were reported of up to 116MPH, and local residents commented that the Mojave area had not experienced such a combination of high winds, rain and freezing temperatures for over two decades. Both spaceship and mothership were unscathed thanks to the rapid action of the crew as were all guests thanks to an efficient evacuation to waiting buses.
Sir Richard Branson added: “We were fully expecting to be blown away by our beautiful new spaceship but got a little more than we bargained for!”
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25 Responses to "Hurricane Provides Dramatic End to Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Event"
Adrian Gill on 12.12.09 (22:32)
The Virgin group and VG are not only the focus of the "real" space race, for the future but also bring hope and dreams to many of us. Not only were the guests safe but notice that the storm did not stop the event. That, I dare say, is Leadership and the Quintessence of entrepreneurial spirit as we rarely see it. The only lack I feel is the mechanism to share the NEO (and further) experiences with a wider audience, but I anticipate that that angle too will be covered in due course. In short, "screw it, sign me up, Scotty"
Liz Caldwell, CMP on 12.12.09 (20:24)
I was there for four days, working on the GroupDelphi production team coordinating with the caterers. Working in the adverse weather conditions, major wind, dust, rain, mud, sleet, snow, and cold, was a testament to event professionalism. Agility and flexibility with a smile was the name of the game throughout the project. The event elements were executed and the party was under way with festive guests and a happy Virgin Galactic team when Mother Nature unleashed her big winds. The delay of the big weather and the extraordinary professionalism of the management team not only ensured the success of the event, but the SAFETY of EVERYONE. The destruction that followed was something to be seen as described in the post below. It is living proof that contingency plans and risk management save lives (and events) – hats off to the leadership and those bus drivers!
Red Planet on 12.12.09 (16:50)
Fantastic Event, Thank you VG crew for putting together yet another fenomenal function and getting everyone out of there in one piece. Lina
Christian on 12.12.09 (14:05)
Our post about the event for all german fans Im Multiversum: Stürmische Taufe von SpaceShipTwo in der kalifornischen Mojave-Wüste
Vernette Griffee on 12.12.09 (03:41)
I was there, working on the catering crew from Along Came Mary, we also had to deal with taking care of the guests under complete adversity all day, wind, rain, sleet, mud and cold. When the safety crew came through making us ALL get out of the tent we had to leave the buffets and bars just as they were full of food and an Ice Bar, build by Absolute Vodka, with half gallon bottles lined up on ice shelves behind the bar and get out to save ourselves. I can't tell you the destruction to not only the tent but to expensive equipment not jut for catering but the equipment needed by all the media, sound and lighting people. I will NOT forget that day forever and to see the destruction that those winds caused I have to give it to the management crews and those bus drivers for getting us out of harms way. T