Hold on to your moon boots because Virgin Galactic, founded by Richard Branson, is taking commercial flights to space, announcing two upcoming space flights this summer!
The first mission, cheekily named “Galactic 01,” is scheduled for takeoff between June 27 and June 30 and will primarily focus on studying microgravity for scientific research. The company’s announcement revealed that the mission would include three crew members from the Italian Air Force and the National Research Council of Italy.
Following the inaugural June launch, the second mission, “Galactic 02,” is scheduled for early August, marking the initiation of a monthly series of commercial flights. The departure point for the mission will be “Spaceport America,” Virgin Galactic’s facility located in rural New Mexico, about 171 miles south of Albuquerque.
What will the flight experience look like?
At around 10 miles above Earth, VSS Unity, a rocket-powered space plane, will release and fire its rocket motor, propelling it to an altitude exceeding 50 miles. It will then cross into the edge of space, allowing passengers an awe-inspiring view of our planet. Lasting 90 minutes, the experience includes five minutes of weightlessness before the plane glides back to Earth, landing at Spaceport America.
How much are these flights going for?
Tickets were disclosed to have been sold at a whopping base price of $450,000, with a significant backlog and pent-up customer demand. So if you were considering selling your left kidney to afford a seat, you’re definitely not alone!
by travelers, for travelers.
