14 DAY TRIAL // Officials at Planetary Resources Inc., a billionaire-backed enterprise that seeks to develop methods of harvesting platinum-based minerals and other substances from near-Earth asteroids, announce that they have just signed a collaboration contract with Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic.
The document stipulates how Planetary Resources will use the LauncherOne delivery system that Virgin just introduced to the world, as the 2012 Farnborough Air Show, in the United Kingdom. The small rocket uses the WhiteKnightTwo platform for the first stage of its trip.
The delivery system itself has two stages, but they provide enough thrust to escape Earth's gravity carrying a small payload. According to Planetary Resources, the weight LauncherOne can carry is enough for what the company needs it to do.
“We are developing the LauncherOne to deliver small satellites to LEO in a reliable fashion, with the capability to fly dozens of times per year,” explains the President and CEO of Virgin Galactic, George Whitesides.