British Billionaire Richard Branson Achieves Milestone in Space Tourism Venture Following Years of Setbacks: Flight Success Finally Takes Off
Entrepreneur and billionaire Richard Branson made a noteworthy entry into the space tourism race on Thursday as Virgin Galactic’s rocket plane, Unity, soared to an altitude of approximately 53 miles. The suborbital journey, which lasted 90 minutes, carried two Italian air force colonels, an aerospace engineer from the National Research Council of Italy, a Virgin Galactic instructor, and the plane’s two pilots. The entire experience was live-streamed worldwide, captivating audiences.
At the peak of the flight, the crew savoured a few minutes of weightlessness and proudly unfurled an Italian flag. Subsequently, the craft transitioned into re-entry mode and gracefully glided back to the runway at Spaceport America near El Paso, Texas.
During the launch’s live stream, Sirisha Bandla, Vice President of Government Affairs and Research Operations at Virgin Galactic, exclaimed, “Welcome to space, astronauts!” This sentiment was in line with the criteria set by the US Space Agency NASA and the US Air Force, which define an astronaut as an individual who has flown at an altitude of 80km (50 miles) or higher.
Virgin Galactic celebrated the safe return of the crew and their spaceship, tweeting, “Welcome back to Earth, #Galactic01! Our pilots, crew, and spaceship have landed smoothly at @Spaceport_NM.”
This pivotal flight signifies a significant milestone for Virgin Galactic Holding Inc., the space tourism venture established by Sir Richard Branson in 2004. It marks the company’s inaugural commercial service following several years plagued by developmental challenges. While this was the sixth piloted sub-orbital space flight for Virgin Galactic, it was the first to carry paying customers.
Having already sold approximately 800 tickets for trips on the spacecraft, priced at up to $450,000 per seat, Virgin Galactic intends to expand its fleet sufficiently to accommodate 400 flights annually.
Joining the race in billionaire-founded space tourism companies, Virgin Galactic follows in the footsteps of Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
The journey undertaken by the Italian team was a leisurely escapade and a scientific endeavour. One of the astronauts donned a special suit equipped with biometric sensors to measure physiological responses. Another conducted experiments using sensors to track heart rate, brain function, and other metrics in microgravity. The third experiment explored the behaviour of specific liquids and solids when mixed in that environment.
“This flight showcases our distinctive spaceflight system, which enables researchers to conduct experiments while flying, and demonstrates our ability to provide regular access to space for the science and technology community,” stated Sirisha Bandla.
The launch came two years after Richard Branson embarked on the first fully crewed test spaceflight of Unity in July 2021, accompanied by five other Virgin Galactic personnel. At the time, the company aimed to commence regular commercial service in 2022 following additional test flights.
It is worth noting that in 2014, Virgin Galactic experienced a tragic incident when its SpaceShipTwo craft crashed in the California desert, resulting in the loss of a pilot.
Branson’s other space venture, Virgin Orbit, a satellite launch firm, announced its closure in May. This decision came shortly after a rocket carrying the first satellites launched from British soil failed to reach orbit and was lost.
The space tourism industry’s progress continues to entice billionaires to invest substantial sums in extreme expeditions. Despite the inherent risks, these ventures are becoming increasingly popular among the wealthy.
As Richard Branson successfully realized his ambition of reaching space on Virgin Galactic’s groundbreaking mission, the future of commercial space travel becomes even more tangible. The aspirations of space tourism pioneers continue to push boundaries, offering a tantalizing glimpse into a new era of exploration and adventure.
