30-6-2023 (NEW MEXICO) After facing numerous challenges and setbacks, Virgin Galactic achieved a significant milestone by successfully completing its first commercial flight. The mission, known as Galactic 01, carried three passengers from the Italian Air Force and National Research Council of Italy, along with 13 research payloads, to the edge of space.
On June 29, 2023, at 8:30 am MT, the spaceplane VSS Unity, commanded by Michael Masucci and piloted by Nicola Pecile, took off from Spaceport America Runway 34 in New Mexico. It was attached beneath the mothership VSS Eve. At an altitude of 44,500 ft (13,500 m), VSS Unity was released and ignited its hybrid rocket engine, propelling it to an altitude of 52.9 miles (85.1 km) with a maximum velocity of Mach 2.88.
During the period of weightlessness as the spaceplane hovered at the edge of space, the passengers conducted a range of experiments. These included studying the effects of zero gravity on cognitive performance and material mixing, as well as monitoring human body functions using specialized sensors.
Upon descent, VSS Unity deployed its tail booms to gradually reduce speed to subsonic levels until the air pressure allowed for responsive controls. The spacecraft landed safely at 9:42 am MT.
Virgin Galactic plans to follow this successful flight with Galactic 02 in August, which will include private astronauts. Subsequently, the company aims to offer monthly space missions for paying civilian passengers, including tourists.
Michael Colglazier, CEO of Virgin Galactic, expressed his enthusiasm for the milestone, stating, “Today, our team successfully flew six people and more than a dozen research payloads to space in VSS Unity, our unique, suborbital science lab. This historic flight was our first commercial flight and our first dedicated commercial research mission – ushering in a new era of repeatable and reliable access to space for private passengers and researchers. ‘Galactic 02,’ our first spaceflight with private astronauts, is planned for August, and we expect VSS Unity to continue with monthly space missions while we simultaneously work to scale our future spaceship fleet for a global audience.”
