Virgin Galactic Successfully Performs Its First Commercial Space Flight

Liputan6.com, Jakarta – Virgin Galactic space flight company, has finally successfully completed their first commercial space flight.

The flight was carried out last Thursday local time. The VSS Unity spacecraft was launched on the VMS Eve mother ship, to then reach an altitude of about 52 miles or at the edge of space.

The plane then landed about 15 minutes later at the company base near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, completing the Galactic 01 research mission.

To quote EngadgetSaturday (1/7/2023), the first client of the company made by Richard Branson was the Italian government, which wanted to conduct microgravity research.

Those flying were Air Force colonel Walter Villadei, Air Force lieutenant and flight surgeon Colonel Angelo Landolfi, and Pantaleone Carlucci, a research board member who acted as flight engineer and payload specialist.

For the spaceship pilot, Unity was piloted by retired US Air Force Lieutenant Colonels Michael Masucci and Nicoca Pecile, along with Virgin Galactic trainer Colin Bennett on board.

Virgin Galactic CEO Michael Colglazier, citing the official Virgin Galactic website, said that their flight was a historic flight for the company.

“This historic flight was our first commercial flight and our first dedicated commercial research mission – ushering in a new era of repeatable and reliable access to space for private passengers and astronauts,” he said.

Later, Galactic 02, will be their space flight with a private astronaut, and is planned for this August 2023, with VSS Unity planned to be used for flights every month.

The Virgin Calactic company made its first commercially piloted flight from its base in New Mexico, USA. Trials will continue until the 2022 launch.