The world dreamed of it, Richard Branson did it. For the first time in its history, the Virgin Galactic aerospace company, owned by British entrepreneur Richard Branson, sent tourists into space last Thursday.
Just like the first steps on the moon, here come the pioneers of space tourism. Incredible but true! Virgin Galactic has just sent its first customers into the cosmos, after more than two decades in business.
After a long hour’s wait, more on land than in the air, the VSS Unity spacecraft reached space on August 10 at around 9:30 a.m. (New Mexico local time) at an altitude of 44,500 feet, according to the company, which broadcast the event live on its website.
The commercial flight had 6 people on board, including three Italian researchers, two company pilots and an astronaut trainer.
“An incredible experience, from take-off to landing”, said Pantaleone Carlucci, representing the Italian National Research Council. “The acceleration, the climb and then suddenly, microgravity. … I had the opportunity to look outside, and the view was incredible. Fantastic! I’m speechless.”
Once the Unity rocket was launched, the spacecraft’s hybrid engine ignited, propelling it into the heavens and out of the lower atmosphere. Cameras mounted on the ship’s hull showed the Earth falling, while the sky grew darker and darker as the rocket gained altitude.
A minute later, reaching 2.8 times the speed of sound at an altitude of 136,000 feet, the engine stopped. The 6 crew members thus discovered what weightlessness was all about.
Italian Air Force Colonel Walter Villadei, commander of the mission, said, “You can be told during training what kind of experiences you can have, but in the end, when it’s your body and your senses, it’s completely different.”
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