Virgin Galactic launches tourists to edge of space

Virgin Galactic on Thursday blasted three tourists to the edge of space aboard its air-launched VSS Unity spaceplane.

It was the Richard Branson-founded company's first private astronaut spaceflight and second commercial mission as it starts routine flights.

The rocket-powered VSS Unity craft dropped from the carrier plane over New Mexico and blasted its four passengers - a company instructor and three tourists, to an altitude of roughly 55 miles (88.51 km).

Jon Goodwin from the United Kingdom, and Keisha Schahaff and Anastatia Mayers from Antigua and Barbuda were part of the private astronaut flight dubbed 'Galactic 02'.

The hour-long experience gave them a few minutes of weightlessness before their plane returned safely to Spaceport America.

The company will now proceed with post-flight inspections and analysis in preparation for the next commercial space mission, 'Galactic 03,' which is planned for September in a continuation of Virgin Galactic’s monthly flight cadence.

Today we flew three incredible private passengers to space: Keisha Schahaff, Anastatia Mayers and Jon Goodwin. Congratulations @VirginGalactic commercial astronauts 011, 012 and 013 – welcome to the club! https://t.co/oJb9bw6ggk #Galactic02 pic.twitter.com/PVQoH9q7Js

— Richard Branson (@richardbranson) August 10, 2023