Meet Virgin Mothership Eve

Katherine Mangu-Ward | July 28, 2008

Meet the VMS Eve (short for Virgin Mothership Eve), the newly-completed launcher that's going to be schlepping anyone with the cash on a space vacation in the very near future. SpaceShipTwo, the part passengers will actually ride in, is about 70 percent complete, according to engineers.

The retro-looking space pinup painted on its side is inspired by an old photo of the vehicle's namesake, Eve Branson—Richard's Branson mother.

More on the joys of commercial space travel here.