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Virgin Galactic to Offer Suborbital Flights for Space Tourists in Late June
Billionaire Richard Branson’s space tourism venture, Virgin Galactic, is set to offer suborbital flights for space tourists in late June 2022. The first thing they must do is conduct one last test flight on Thursday to assess the customer experience and ground-based testing. Virgin Galactic isn’t live streaming its launch, but they will be providing updates through their Twitter feed.
Unity 25 Mission
Virgin Galactic is scheduled to launch the Unity 25 mission on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. ET from Spaceport America in New Mexico. The mission is meant to assess the customer experience and ground-based testing ahead of opening up its commercial operations to the public. If all goes well for its final test flight, Virgin Galactic can begin offering private trips to the edge of space for paying customers in late June.
VMS Eve and VSS Unity
The test flight will see Virgin Galactic’s VMS Eve carrier aircraft take off while carrying the VSS Unity spaceplane beneath its wings before releasing the spacecraft at an altitude of roughly 50,000 feet (15,000 meters) above the ground. Once released, the spaceplane will then fire its rocket engines and attempt to reach about 50 miles (80 kilometers) above the surface of Earth. That border altitude is considered to be the edge of space, while the internationally recognized boundary, known as the Karman Line, is 62 miles (100 kilometers) above the surface. Six crew members will ride on board the Unity spaceplane, while two pilots will take the helm aboard the Eve aircraft.
Cost of the Suborbital Trip
One seat on board the suborbital trip could cost around $450,000. The company claims to already have 700 customers lined up to snag their spot, according to Space.com.
Richard Branson’s Flight to the Edge of Space
Billionaire Richard Branson hopped on board a Virgin Galactic flight to the edge of space back in July 2021. The spaceplane veered off course during its ascent, but an investigation into Branson’s flight concluded in September 2021. The Federal Aviation Administration granted the company a license for commercial rocket launches.
Conclusion
The world’s wealthiest passengers are almost ready to make their way to space with Virgin Galactic. The company’s final test flight on Thursday could see them open up their commercial operations to the public in late June 2022. Virgin Galactic’s Spaceport America in New Mexico will take off with the VMS Eve carrier aircraft and the VSS Unity spaceplane beneath it. The suborbital trip could cost $450,000 for one seat on board.
FAQs
When is Virgin Galactic launching the Unity 25 mission?
Virgin Galactic is scheduled to launch the Unity 25 mission on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. ET from Spaceport America in New Mexico.
What is the purpose of the Unity 25 mission?
The Unity 25 mission is meant to assess the customer experience and ground-based testing ahead of opening up its commercial operations to the public.
What altitude will the VSS Unity spaceplane reach?
The VSS Unity spaceplane will attempt to reach about 50 miles (80 kilometers) above the surface of Earth, which is considered to be the edge of space.
What is the cost of the suborbital trip with Virgin Galactic?
One seat on board the suborbital trip could cost around $450,000, according to Space.com.
Who hopped on board a Virgin Galactic flight to the edge of space in July 2021?
Billionaire Richard Branson hopped on board a Virgin Galactic flight to the edge of space in July 2021.
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