The Virgin Galactic rocket plane left New Mexico and flew to the edge of the space for the first time
Virgin Galactic gave one more important step to complete the development of your system of spacial tourism on Saturday, when it successfully performed its first space flight in more than two years.
The company’s spacecraft, named VSS Unity, was carried up to an altitude of approximately 44, 000 feet by a transport plane named VMS Eve.
The aircraft then released the spacecraft, which fired its rocket engine and accelerated to more than d e three times the speed of sound.
60 seconds of rocket burn, straight into space. # UNITY 21 # VirginGalactic pic.twitter.com/yc87 hWRLxc
– Virgin Galactic (@virgingalactic) May 22, 2021
After performing a slow backflip in microgravity at the edge of space, reaching an altitude of 89. 2 kilometers, or about 293, 000 feet, Unity slid back through the atmosphere.
The GPS e space landed on the Spaceport America runway in New Mexico , where it took off before.
Space is too good not to share. Our proof is in the incredible views of Earth aboard # Unity 21 .
See more from the spaceflight: https://t.co/jXAuNRAbpw # VirginGalactic pic.twitter.com/F1pdPmvDx2
– Virgin Galactic (@virgingalactic) May 23, 1396187353262092288
“It was flawless,” said the CEO of Virgin Galactic, Michael Colglazier, to CNBC about the flight.
The pilots CJ Sturckow and Dave Mackay flew in Unity.
The pair have previously flown into space , as well as Virgin Galactic pilots Michael “Sooch” Masucci and Mark Stucky and Head Astronaut Trainer Beth Moses, who were given astronaut wings after the company’s first two space flights.
The United States officially considers astronauts pilots who have flown over the 87 kilometres.
The Unity spacecraft of Virgin Galactic is designed to accommodate up to six passengers together with the two pilots. The company has around 600 ticket reservations for future flights to the edge of space, sold at prices between $ 200, 000 and $ 250, 000 dollars each.
The space flight is the company’s first since February 2019, the first flight from New Mexico and the third to the date.
Virgin Galactic previously conducted two spaceflight tests from its development facility in California’s Mojave Desert, before moving to its operational base at Spaceport America in the basin. from the desert of Jornada del Muerto to 45 miles north of Las Cruces, in New Mexico.
“Today’s flight showcased the inherent elegance and safety of our spaceflight system, while marking a major step forward for both Virgin Galactic as for manned spaceflight in New Mexico” said CEO Michal Colglazier.
The company has two remaining milestones of the Adm Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that you must pass to receive a key license to conduct regular space flights .