Virgin Galactic recently launched a fully crewed trip to the edge of space. The crew also included the company’s founder Richard Branson. The flight happened aboard the VSS Unity spaceplane. The 15-minute experience has given a peek into how the future Virgin Galactic space tourism flights will be.
At 50,000 feet is when the carrier aircraft VMS Eve, released VSS Unity. As it begins to descend, two pilots aboard Unity, fire up its rocket engine to ferry the crew to the edge of space. After just one minute, the spaceplane reaches 2,214 mph and the passengers are allowed to unfasten seat belts, allowing them to enjoy weightlessness.
15 minutes of weightlessness
At a peak altitude of about 282,000 feet (53.4 miles/86 km), Branson and three other members can be seen floating around the cabin. The founder of the company also gave an inspirational message to the children watching the spectacle.
The pilots then asked the passengers to return to their seats for the short flight back home. From thrusting the rocket engine to landing back safely, the experience lasted just 15 minutes. After the successful flight, more commercial flights could be planned soon.
Two contest winners to get free tickets to space
The cost for booking a seat on Virgin Galactic’s spaceflight is set at $250,000. But following the test ride, Branson launched a contest where two lucky people can get free tickets for a flight slated for early next year.
Branson also paid tribute to his mother after the test flight. “She held on for one last victory, managing to fight off the virus, but had expended all of her energy in the process,” wrote Branson in a blog post. “She took glider lessons disguised as a boy, enlisted in the WRENS (Women’s Royal Naval Service) during World War II … she was inventive, fearless, relentless — an entrepreneur before the word existed.”
Besides, Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin is also planning a similar space tourism service by next year. Bezos will be traveling to space on the New Shepard rocket in a test flight that will take place on July 20.
