Virgin Galactic

Experiential Expeditions

Virgin Galactic reveals the experience-focused interiors of VSS Unity.

One of the defining hallmarks of the Virgin brand over the past 50 years has been the use of inspired and bold design to transform the customer experience. It’s an ethos that has been successfully applied across various sectors, from health clubs to hotel rooms, and now, thanks to Virgin Galactic, spaceship cabins.

In a live-streamed event, the space travel company revealed the cabin interior of VSS Unity, its SpaceshipTwo vehicle designed with the astronaut experience in mind. The elegant yet progressive scheme has been carefully planned for both safety and comfort, and features colours and textures selected to inspire a sense of confidence from the moment astronauts board.

Individually sized seats are created using the highest-grade aluminium and carbon-fibre manufacturing techniques, while the importance of comfort to optimise performance is accentuated by a pilot-controlled recline mechanism that positions astronauts to manage G-forces. The seats are upholstered in a breathable 3D knit material created by Under Armour, which also developed the spacesuits, while seatback screens provide digital flight data to connect each astronaut to the flight deck.

SpaceShipTwo’s cabin is deliberately sized to allow for an out-of-seat weightlessness experience, so soft surfaces as well as intuitive handholds allow astronauts to explore the cabin freely. Completing the scheme, multi-coloured LED halos concealed within the 12 window surrounds are programmed to subtly change according to the stage of flight; at the pinnacle of the experience, as the Earth comes into view against the black sky of space, all lighting is extinguished, bringing instant focus to the vista.

Virgin Galactic’s community of future astronauts have always been clear that having photos and videos of their spaceflight is of paramount importance, so in true 21st century style, the output from 16 cabin cameras plus those mounted externally will provide everything from Instagram posts to personal movies.

Le Méridien Lav, Split, Croatia, furnished by SNS Group.