Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic is making space tourism a reality, one successful launch at a time. On Friday, September 15, 2024, the company achieved its fourth suborbital spaceflight, carrying three paying passengers on a thrilling journey beyond the Earth’s atmosphere.
This latest mission saw the VSS Unity spaceplane soar into the cosmos with a crew of six, including three space tourists: British advertising executive Trevor Beattie, American science communicator Ron Rosano, and Namira Salim, making history as Pakistan’s first space traveler. Accompanying them were two Virgin Galactic pilots and the company’s chief astronaut trainer.
The launch took place at noon EDT from Spaceport America in New Mexico. The VSS Unity was carried aloft by Virgin’s twin-fuselage Eve carrier jet to approximately 44,000 feet. After separating from the carrier jet, the spaceplane initiated its ascent towards the edge of space. With all systems go, Commander Kelly Latimer and Co-pilot Rick Sturckow, a former space shuttle commander, ignited the spacecraft’s hybrid rocket motor, propelling the crew toward their celestial destination.
This milestone reaffirms Virgin Galactic’s dedication to expanding commercial space travel. With each successful flight, the company moves closer to making space tourism accessible to a wider audience, opening up a world of thrilling opportunities for adventurous travelers. The future of space travel seems brighter than ever, and Virgin Galactic is leading the charge.
