Virgin Galactic, a pioneering space tourism company, has achieved a major milestone in its journey towards commercial operations with its final test flight, marking a significant turning point for the company. On Thursday, a team of six employees, including two pilots, goed on a brief journey to space, reaching an altitude of 54.2 miles and experiencing weightlessness for a few minutes. The company hailed the achievement as a culmination of over a decade of hard work and dedication.
The test flight began with the mothership carrying the spaceplane to an altitude of 44,500 feet, where it was released and fired its rocket motor to make the final push. “Successful boost, We have reached space!” Virgin Galactic tweeted, commemorating the momentous occasion. The spaceplane reached its zenith before gliding back down to the runway, providing a smooth landing for the crew.
Among those on board was Jamila Gilbert, a mission specialist who grew up in southern New Mexico and oversees internal communications for the company. Her experience was nothing short of breathtaking, as she described the sensation of floating in mid-air, gazing out at the planet, and feeling an intense magnetic pull. “It was hard for me to put the experience into words,” she said in an interview. “It probably will take a lifetime to process the sights and feelings that filled those moments between the rocket igniting and the spaceship reaching its highest point.”
Fellow crew member Christopher Huie, an aerospace engineer, echoed Gilbert’s sentiments, describing the anticipation leading up to the rocket’s ignition as “intense” and expressing his wish to have lived in that moment forever. As the rocket fired, the crew felt a jostle, followed by the intense forces of acceleration pushing them back into their seats.
Virgin Galactic
Virgin Galactic has faced numerous delays and setbacks over the years, but the company has finally secured federal approval to start commercial operations. Thursday’s flight marks a significant turnaround for the company, which plans to launch its first commercial flights later this year. The initial group of passengers will consist of members of the Italian Air Force who will conduct experiments.
The initial commercial flight will be followed by paying customers who have purchased tickets for the chance to experience weightlessness aboard a winged spacecraft. Approximately 800 tickets have been sold over the past decade, with the initial batch going for $200,000 each and current prices ranging from $450,000 per person. Virgin Galactic has already reached space five times since 2018 and plans to increase its flight capacity to 400 per year once it completes the development of its next-generation rocket-powered planes.
With Thursday’s test flight serving as a triumphant conclusion to its testing phase, Virgin Galactic is poised to revolutionize the space tourism industry and fulfill its promise of taking paying customers to the edge of space. The company’s success will lay the groundwork for a new era of space travel, providing a unique and unforgettable experience for those who dare to dream big. As the company gears up for its commercial launch, it is clear that the future of space tourism is bright, and Virgin Galactic is leading the charge.
