What time will the Virgin Galactic launch take place? How can I watch it? Here’s everything you need to know.
Richard Branson’s groundbreaking commercial spaceflight venture, Virgin Galactic, is all set for its inaugural launch today. While it may be dubbed as a commercial flight, this particular mission will carry a crew from the Italian Air Force and National Research Council of Italy, alongside a Virgin Galactic astronaut instructor, on a scientific expedition. The success of this mission will lay the foundation for future Virgin Galactic flights that will accommodate paying customers. So, when exactly is the launch, and how can you witness this remarkable event?
Virgin Galactic, spearheaded by Richard Branson, has been diligently working on the concept of commercial space travel since 2009. The current mission, named Galactic 01, serves a research purpose and will include crew members from the Italian Air Force, the National Research Council of Italy, and a Virgin Galactic astronaut instructor. If all goes well with this flight, the plan is to open up the opportunity for paying customers to embark on their own Virgin Galactic flights starting in August.
Now, let’s address the all-important question of the launch time. Galactic 01 is scheduled to commence at 4PM BST, which translates to 8AM PT and 11AM ET on Thursday, June 29. This flight is projected to last approximately 90 minutes, with the aircraft soaring to heights of 80km above the Earth’s surface. The crew’s objective during this expedition is to conduct a series of 13 experiments, focusing on areas such as biomedicine, thermo-fluid dynamics, and microgravity. The esteemed members of the crew undertaking this mission are Col. Walter Villadei, Pantaleone Carlucci, Lt. Col. Angelo Landolfi, and Colin Bennett, who serves as the astronaut instructor.
If you’re eager to witness the Virgin Galactic launch, fret not. The company will be live streaming the event on their website. The launch procedure will commence with a carrier plane transporting the passengers to an altitude of 15km, following which the smaller craft will detach from the carrier plane. The passenger vessel will then propel itself, autonomously, to an altitude of 80km.
For those unfamiliar with Virgin Galactic, it is Richard Branson’s brainchild and vision of commercial space travel that has been in development since 2009. Their approach to space exploration differentiates from that of SpaceX and Blue Origin, who employ dramatic vertical rocket launches resembling those executed by NASA. If Galactic 01 proves successful, it will lay the groundwork for tourists to venture into space on future Galactic flights later this year. The spacecraft will hover in position for five minutes, enabling passengers to experience the wonders of zero gravity and marvel at the breathtaking views of space and Earth through the vast array of windows present on the aircraft.
Regarding upcoming Virgin Galactic flights, once Galactic 01 completes its mission today, the first flight catering to tourists is slated for August. While the specific date for Galactic 02 is yet to be announced, it is anticipated to take place early in the month. Moving forward, the company plans to offer flights once a month, as stated on their website, with ambitions to expand their flight schedule within the first year.
In conclusion, the Virgin Galactic launch is a highly anticipated event, and with the live stream coverage available on the company’s website, you can witness this historic moment from the comforts of your own space.
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