In January 2008, the liveries of the world's first commercial spacecraft SpaceShipTwo and its mothership, WhiteKnightTwo were revealed to the world at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

 

Naturally, the groundbreaking nature of the venture had to be reflected in the design of the spacecraft. The challenge was to create liveries that would tell the Virgin Galactic story, implement the new identity, and also retain the association with the Virgin Group, and Virgin Atlantic in particular. It was also important both craft look beautiful together, as well as apart, and that SpaceShipTwo should be the hero.

 

As Virgin Galactic is a thoroughly premium brand, the classic Virgin red was replaced with black. The relationship with Virgin Atlantic is reinforced through more subtle means; the full name logotype, the familiar shape of the tailfin and the 'flying lady' (now clad in a spacesuit), all mark out the connection.

 

Both craft also feature the Virgin Galactic 'iris' logo, the famous Virgin script, and the 'DNA of flight' graphic (a timeline of aviation), adapted for each craft. WhiteKnightTwo features a version including the craft itself, while SpaceShipTwo's livery incorporates the irises of the first 500 astronauts who will fly in it - a reminder of the human spirit behind the technology.