A HOP INTO SPACE

Virgin Galactic is a company that has set itself the goal of making space tourism possible. It was founded in 2004 by Sir Richard Branson and has since made great strides in the development of commercial space flights. The company plans to offer tourists the opportunity to fly into space and experience weightlessness.

To achieve this ambitious goal, Virgin Galactic has developed SpaceShipTwo, a spacecraft specifically designed for suborbital tourism. SpaceShipTwo is launched by a carrier aircraft called WhiteKnightTwo and then shot into space. It can carry up to six passengers and two pilots.

The flight with Virgin Galactic begins with a spectacular launch from the Spaceport America space centre in New Mexico. After take-off, SpaceShipTwo reaches an altitude of around 80 kilometres above the Earth, known as the Kármán Line, which is generally regarded as the boundary to space. Once there, passengers experience weightlessness for a few minutes and have a breathtaking view of the Earth.

During the flight, passengers have the opportunity to get up from their seats and move freely around the room. They can float, do somersaults and even take photos of the earth out of the window. This unique experience offers tourists the chance to experience something that was previously reserved for astronauts.

To book a flight with Virgin Galactic, tourists must first make a reservation and be placed on a waiting list. Demand for flights into space is high and the number of seats available is limited. Once a seat is available, passengers must undergo an extensive medical examination to ensure they are up to the physical demands of space travel.

VIRGIN GALACTIC`S FIRST COMMERCIAL SPACEFLIGHT

Virgin Galactic’s First Commercial Spaceflight

Virgin Galactic, founded by Sir Richard Branson, made history on July 11, 2021, with its first fully crewed suborbital spaceflight. The mission, named Unity 22, marked a significant milestone in the company’s journey towards commercial space tourism.

Preparation and Launch

The spaceflight took off from Spaceport America in New Mexico. The VSS Unity spacecraft was carried aloft by the mothership VMS Eve before detaching and igniting its rocket engine to propel itself into space. Onboard were two pilots and four mission specialists, including Sir Richard Branson himself.

Flight Experience

The spacecraft reached an altitude of approximately 53 miles (86 kilometers) above Earth’s surface, allowing the crew to experience a few minutes of weightlessness and witness the curvature of the planet before descending back to Earth. The entire flight lasted around 90 minutes.

Significance and Impact

Virgin Galactic’s successful mission demonstrated the viability of commercial space travel and paved the way for future space tourism endeavors. The company aims to offer suborbital flights to paying customers in the near future, opening up a new era of space exploration for private individuals.

Future Plans

Following the success of Unity 22, Virgin Galactic plans to conduct further test flights before beginning regular commercial operations. The company has already received numerous reservations from individuals eager to experience space travel firsthand.