we start off with the spaceship mounted in the fuselage. we climb up to 46,000 feet. release the spaceship so it falls away. about three seconds after the motor is lit up and off we go. air launch spaceship that's a fundamentally safer concept. the other part of spaceship technology tail of the vehicle rotates upwards through 60 degrees to give this shuttle effect where no matter how it meets the atmosphere on reentry it will adjust itself to the optimum reentry position. >> as the vice president of operations, mike overseas the program for virgin galactic. >> you work for nasa for years. >> yes. >> in charge of the operations. >> 17 years i did the last 12 shuttle missions. that was great. >> when you found out that the shuttle program was