Virgin Galactic space breakthrough, Richard Branson goes to space

After 17 years of developing the Virgin Galactic, Sir Richard Branson finally achieved his dream of going to space describing the spaceflight as a lifetime experience. He said he dreamed of going to space as he watched the Apollo moon landings, and founded the Virgin Galactic in 2004.   

“I have dreamt of this moment since I was a kid, and honestly nothing could prepare you for the view of Earth from space,” Branson said after landing.

Virgin Galactic’s spacecraft VSS Unity launched for space from New Mexico on Sunday with two pilots manning the vessel carrying Branson and three employees. The VSS Unity was supported by a carrier aircraft called VMS Eve – after its release at 40,000 feet, it fired its rocket engine and accelerated at a high speed into space, reaching an altitude of 86.1 kilometers (53.5 miles), about 282,000 feet.

The spaceflight had onboard pilots Dave Mackay and Michael Masucci, who flew the craft. Others on board were Branson, chief astronaut trainer Beth Moses, lead operations engineer Colin Bennett, and VP of government affairs Sirisha Bandla. 

Both pilots have previously flown into space, alongside pilots C.J. Sturckow and Mark Stucky. The United States officially recognizes pilots who have flown above 80 kilometers (about 262,000 ft) as astronauts.

VSS Unity is designed to accommodate up to six passengers alongside the two pilots. Virgin Galactic has roughly 600 reservations for ticked on future space flights, sold between $200,000 and $250,000 per seat.

In a statement, Branson said the goal was to make space travel accessible to all. He also wrote a mission statement inside his spacesuit saying that he wants to turn his dream of space travel into a reality for his grandchildren and “for many people who are alive today, for everybody.”

“It’s a way of just trying to get lots of people who couldn’t otherwise afford to go to space, to go to space,” the billionaire said.

Virgin Galactic is making steady progress toward its space travel goal. VSS Unity was its fourth spaceflight since the company began making trips to space, but the company’s second so far this year, and the first to carry up to six passengers.

The company plans to launch commercial space travel by 2022. Its crew members are currently testing the spacecraft’s cabin capacity and the training program it has developed to ensure that customers are properly prepared for space travel. Sunday’s flight was one of the three remaining flights the company needs to finish development. Two more flights are scheduled for this year.

The first commercial flight will happen early next year. Shortly after Branson landed he announced that Virgin Galactic partnered with sweepstakes company Omaze for an offer of two seats on one of the first spaceflights in 2022. The sweepstakes’ requirement is a donation that would go to a non-profit, Space for Humanity. Branson added that he would personally give the winners a guided tour of Spaceport America, putting on his “Willy Wonka hat.”