A Virgin Galactic spacecraft reached the edge of space on Thursday carrying a crew of six on its first space test flight in nearly two years, as the space tourism company founded by Richard Branson prepares its much commercial service expected.
The VSS Unity spacecraft was released from its twin-body transporter plane around 12:24 pm (local time) over the New Mexico desert and blasted off toward the edge of space seconds later at about three times the speed of sound.
“Successful thrust, we reach space!” Virgin Galactic wrote on Twitter. The craft landed around 12:37 pm, according to Virgin Galactic.
Virgin Galactic’s Unity 25 mission, lasting approximately 90 minutes, is a crucial final test flight ahead of the company’s first commercial mission in late June, which it expects to fly about one mission each month thereafter.
The flight comes 22 months after billionaire Branson and staff flew to the edge of space aboard the SpaceShipTwo spacecraft. Virgin Galactic hopes this high-profile mission will pave the way for routine flights soon.
Successful boost, WE HAVE REACHED SPACE! 🌌#UNITY25
— Virgin Galactic (@virgingalactic) May 25, 2023
Source: CNN Brasil
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