Sunday, September 15, 2024 Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic continues its impressive streak of monthly launches, with its fourth suborbital spaceflight featuring paying customers. On Friday, the VSS Unity spaceplane carried a crew of six, including three space tourists, on a brief journey beyond the lower atmosphere. The mission saw British advertising executive Trevor Beattie, American science communicator Ron Rosano, and Namira Salim—Pakistan’s first space traveler—join two Virgin Galactic pilots and the company’s chief astronaut trainer.
The launch took place from Spaceport America in New Mexico around noon EDT. After being carried aloft by Virgin’s twin-fuselage Eve carrier jet to approximately 44,000 feet, the spaceplane separated and initiated its ascent. With final checks complete, commander Kelly Latimer and co-pilot Rick Sturckow, a former space shuttle commander, ignited the spacecraft’s hybrid rocket motor, propelling the crew toward the edge of space.
This milestone reaffirms Virgin Galactic’s commitment to expanding commercial space travel. With each successful flight, the company moves closer to making space tourism a reality for a broader audience, promising even more thrilling opportunities for adventurous travelers..
