SpaceShipTwo mockup (of sorts) in New York

If you’re going to be in New York this weekend, or in easy traveling distance, you may want to check out the Wired NextFest at the Javits Center, which will feature, among others exhibitors, Virgin Galactic. While some reports indicate that Virgin Galactic will be displaying a full-scale mockup of SpaceShipTwo, the company itself indicated in a media announcement that it will be unveiling a “full-sized mock-up showing the conceptual interior of SpaceShipTwo within the concept of scaled-up version of SpaceShipOne.” Rather convoluted language, but suggesting that what’s really being unveiled is the current design of the cabin interior, not the full vehicle itself. (One imagines that the overall design of SS2 itself will be kept under tight wraps until Burt Rutan is good and ready to show it off.)

In addition to the cabin mockup (which will be unveiled at a Thursday morning press conference featuring Richard Branson, Will Whitehorn, and other Virgin Galactic officials), there are a couple of related panel sessions during NextFest itself. At noon on Friday Virgin officials (sans Branson), along with Brian Binnie, will speak on “Virgin Galactic, Cleared for Take-off”. Saturday at 10 am “The New Vacationauts” panel includes Eric Anderson, Peter Diamandis, Whitehorn, Granger Whitelaw of the Rocket Racing League, and Chris Shank of NASA.