Attending the launch was Stephen Attenborough, Virgin Galactic's Commercial Director, who commented: "Virgin Galactic is on track to become the world's first commercial spaceline and South Africans can now book their seats and join Virgin's founder Sir Richard Branson and over 500 other first-time space travellers from around the world."
Technical support company Strike Alliance was tasked to create a superior lounge, similar to the Heathrow airport upper class lounge, where high-profile executives would be treated to an outer space experience beyond their dreams. Plasma walls were designed to produce effective visuals around the stage setting, in addition to space modules generating the space-like atmosphere. No stranger to innovation, Strike Alliance's concept matched the vision and originality of the Virgin brand and the audience were provided with an experience of living the high of hurtling through the atmosphere and into space. Director of Strike Alliance Leah McCrae commented: "It was absolutely wonderful to work on this amazing project, launching Virgin Galactic in South Africa and putting South Africans on the brink of commercial space travel."
Vanessa Rothery was handpicked by Virgin Galactic for her experience in the luxury travel sector as well as her passion for exploration and space travel. She completed an intensive training program with Virgin Galactic to give her the knowledge required to complete reservations for the world's first private spaceline. She will be working with selected travel agency partners to make it easier for South Africans to reserve Virgin Galactic spaceflights. She was delighted with the launch production and lauded Strike Alliance's high level of professionalism, perfectly matched with one of the world's leading and ground-breaking brands, the Virgin Group.
The success of the launch could be measured in the ultimate desire of many of the audience members, inspired and imbued with the spirit of adventure, wanting to book their place in space.
, Vanessa Rothery, by Virgin Galactic, took place on 2 May at Virgin Atlantic in Johannesburg and was followed by a spectacular launch at Turbine Hall the next day.)
