The era of space tourism has begun. Out in the Mojave desert, Virgin Galactic has unveiled, the WhiteKnightTwo, the new transport ship they’ll be using to carry their not-yet-unveiled SpaceShipTwo into suborbital space.

The passenger ship is then launched from the underside of WhiteKnightTwo to continue its ascent to the very edge of space, about 65 miles (104 kilometers) above Earth.

With a 140-foot wingspan, it’s the largest all-carbon composite aircraft ever built and many of its component parts have been built using composite materials for the very first time (A major benefit of using carbon composites is fuel efficiency.)

The WK2 is capable of a maximum of 50,000 ft and has the power, strength and moves to help train pilots for pre space-flight positive G forces and zero G training.

Its fuel capacity will allow it to complete up to four daily spaceflights or to fly nonstop while ferrying a SpaceShipTwo vehicle between the U.S. coasts. A seat aboard the space plane will cost approximately U.S. $200,000. The 2.5-hour space flight will include about five minutes of weightlessness before the tiny ship floats gracefully back to Earth.

270 people have already signed up and made a deposit. the WhiteKnightTwo is expected to be ready for its first flight along with the SpaceShipTwo in 2009 or early 2010, with the first passengers being Richard Branson and his family.