IMPORTANT POINTS:
- Virgin Galactic carried out its second commercial flight into space, transporting three tourists 88 km high.
- The Galactic 02 mission marks a milestone in space tourism, offering a unique experience to its passengers and demonstrating the potential of the field.
- Despite the delays and competition, Virgin Galactic plans to continue expanding its space tourism program, with 800 clients on the waiting list.
Space tourism has taken a giant step forward with the latest commercial flight from Virgin Galactic (SPCE). The company took three tourists, including an 80-year-old and a mother and daughter, on a thrilling flight 88 km high. The mission, named Galactic 02, is a milestone in the field of commercial spaceflight and demonstrates the promise of space tourism for the future.
On Thursday, Virgin Galactic carried out its second commercial flight, carrying three tourists into space. Jon Goodwin, 80, Keisha Schahaff, 46, and her daughter Anastatia Mayers, 18, enjoyed a unique experience observing the curvature of the Earth and briefly floating in microgravity.
The Galactic 02 crew are in space and out of their seats to enjoy the view of Earth: pic.twitter.com/h5y9r1EjgL
— Michael Sheetz (@thesheetztweetz) August 10, 2023
In addition to the three tourists, they were accompanied on the VSS Unity ship by a Virgin Galactic employee in charge of supervising them and two pilots. The Galactic 02 mission represents the seventh time that this spacecraft has flown into space.
However, unlike the company’s first commercial flight in June, which carried Italian Air Force officers for experiments, this flight was focused on civilian pleasure. The company has also carried out several test flights, including one with its founder, Richard Branson, in July 2021.
Take off and climb
A huge transport plane began the exciting journey by taking off from a runway in New Mexico. After a period of ascent, the craft was released, starting its engine and accelerating vertically until it exceeded 80 km altitude, the US military’s limit of space.
The craft reached an altitude of 88 km before beginning its descent and gliding back to the runway. Passengers were able to experience a brief sensation of weightlessness and marvel at the views of space.
On the other hand, passengers Keisha Schahaff and her daughter Anastatia Mayers won their ticket by participating in a fundraiser organized by Virgin Galactic. Richard Branson surprised Schahaff with the news, then traveled to Antigua and Barbuda to watch the flight.
Jon Goodwin, the third passenger, participated in the 1972 Olympic Games and is the second person with Parkinson’s disease to travel to space. Also, it is important to note that fewer than 700 people have flown into space so far.
Virgin Galactic Space Program
Virgin Galactic competes with Blue Origin in the field of space tourism. With around 800 customers waiting and tickets costing between $200,000 and $450,000, the company plans to run one flight a month.
However, the program has faced delays due to an accident in 2014. Blue Origin, which also offers suborbital flights, has had recent problems with its rocket.
Costing $450,000 for three minutes in space, Virgin Galactic’s Galactic 02 mission offered three lucky tourists a once-in-a-lifetime experience, demonstrating the growth and potential of this exciting field of space tourism.
