The event will represent a historic landmark in space exploration

Nov 9, 2013 10:35 GMT  ·  By
The SpaceShipTwo is seen here firing its rocket engines, during a test flight conducted earlier this year
   The SpaceShipTwo is seen here firing its rocket engines, during a test flight conducted earlier this year

Officials at Virgin Galactic, the company in charge of developing the SpaceShipTwo suborbital aircraft, announced yesterday, November 8, that NBC had signed a contract to broadcast the vehicle's first spaceflight, in late 2014. 

Sir Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Galactic, announced that the inaugural flight of the high-tech aircraft would be shown by NBC Universal across the United States and the world. A series of preflight documentaries will air on the network's channels as well, Space reports.

“Without a doubt, Sir Richard and his children taking the first commercial flight into space, will go down in history as one of the most memorable events on television,” says the President and General Manager of NBC's Peacock Productions division, Sharon Scott.

SpaceShipTwo will fly into the upper reaches of the atmosphere attached to the underside of the WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft. After its release, it will use its own rocket engine to climb to the edge of space, giving its six passengers the opportunity to experience several minutes of microgravity.