Virgin Galactic launched its sub-orbital spaceplane 'Unity' on its first crewed flight in two years, carrying two pilots and four company astronauts to the edge of space in a final test flight before paying customers begin sub-orbital jaunts in June.
Virgin Galactic launched its sub-orbital spaceplane"Unity" on its first crewed flight in two years, carrying two pilots and four company astronauts to the edge of space in a final test flight before paying customers begin sub-orbital jaunts in June.
With commander Mike Masucci and co-pilot Rick Sturckow at the controls, the spaceplane continued zooming upward on a ballistic trajectory, giving the four Virgin passengers — astronaut trainer Beth Moses, Luke Mays, Christopher Huie and Jamila Gilbert — a chance to unstrap and briefly float about the cabin.
Once back in the lower atmosphere, the wings rotated back to their normal orientation and the pilots guided the glider to landing on Spaceport America's 12,000-foot runway, touching down at 12:37 p.m. It was Virgin's fifth crewed spaceflight, the third for Masucci, Sturckow and Moses and the first for their crewmates.
Virgin Galactic astronaut Jamila Gilbert looks down at Earth through an overhead window while crewmate Luke Mays, left, looks on.Said Branson:"Huge congratulations to all the team and especially mission specialists Jamila Gilbert, Christopher Huie, and Luke Mays on becoming the newest Virgin Galactic astronauts."
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