Virgin Galactic, Sir Richard Branson’s pioneering rocket company, has achieved a major milestone by successfully launching its first paying customers into space. This achievement comes after nearly two decades of hard work and dedication.
The space company’s VSS Unity rocket was carried into the sky by its mothership, VSS Eve, on the “Galactic 01” mission. The launch took place in the New Mexico desert at approximately 4pm BST or 11am local time.
At an altitude of around 45,000ft, the rocket plane was released from beneath the hull of VSS Eve and began its journey towards space. Accelerating to nearly three times the speed of sound, it soared to an impressive 50 miles above the Earth’s surface.
The crew onboard the spaceplane, consisting of six pilots and crew members, were joined by members of the Italian Air Force who had been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to conduct experiments during the flight.
Upon reaching the peak of its trajectory, the crew had the exhilarating experience of unclipping their seatbelts and enjoying a few moments of weightlessness. As the rocket reached its highest point, the astronaut crew proudly unfurled the Italian flag.
This launch represents a significant accomplishment for Sir Richard Branson, who has been working tirelessly towards the goal of commercial space flight for nearly two decades.
Despite facing numerous challenges and delays, Virgin Galactic now intends to offer regular space flights to customers willing to pay up to $450,000 per ticket. With already 800 passengers in its backlog, the company plans to increase the frequency of launches. However, it is important to note that substantial financial investments are still required and the company expects to incur significant costs this year.
Although the flight safely returned to Earth, shares in Virgin Galactic experienced a temporary decline of up to 10%.
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