Virgin Galactic is known mainly for booking tourists, who will fly into space for the sobering price of US$250,000. But it's flagship, SpaceShipTwo, is also designed to carry scientific experiments for the more research-minded customer. One of three charter flights under the $4.5 million contract with Virgin Galactic to carry up to 1,300 lbs (590 kg) of scientific experiments per flight, the NASA mission will be conducted as part of NASA's Flight Opportunities Program to provide a microgravity environment for experiments and encourage the development of commercial space industries.