Photo by: Virgin Galactic/Twitter

Virgin Galactic/Twitter

It’s the Edge of Space for Virgin Galactic

On May 22, Virgin Galactic’s first human spaceflight successfully launched into space from Spaceport America, New Mexico. Mothership, VMS Eve, the carrier and launch platform for the VSS Unity SpaceShipTwo spacecraft, carried VSS Unity to 44,000 feet in the air and then released it as the spaceship began a rocket powered flight to the edge of space.

May 24, 2021

It took about an hour for the VMS Eve with the VSS Unity SpaceShipTwo to reach its destined altitude. Kelly Latimer and Michael Masucci piloted the mothership while CJ Sturckow and Dave Mackay handled the spaceship.

According to Virgin Galactic’s twitter feed, approximately ten minutes from release, VSS Unity switched to its own battery power and performed all required checks. It waited in launch configuration as the pilots readied its motor system and clearance was sent from Mission Control. VSS Unity then separated from VMS Eve and the rocket motor ignited. It reached space at an altitude of 55.45 miles before descending and landing back at Spaceport America. Sturckow and Mackay viewed the bright blue curvature of Earth against the blackness of space.

The historic flight carried technology experiments for NASA’s Flight Opportunities Program.

Congratulations Virgin Galactic! The company is now one step closer in sending privately paying customers to suborbital space for some out-of-this-world views.

More About Virgin Galactic

Out of This World! Inside Virgin Galactic's Spacecraft

Buckle up! On July 28, Virgin Galactic is showing the world what the inside of their SpaceShipTwo Unity spacecraft looks like via a livestream on their YouTube channel.

Virgin Galactic Failed to Launch because Space is Hard

This is the first test launch from Branson’s Virgin Galactic company since February of 2019, and follows a string of delays, cancellations, and aborts. What’s going on?

Next Up

The James Webb Space Telescope Launches!

Finally! It was initially proposed way back in 1998 and named the James Webb Space Telescope in 2002. After a decade of delays and over 10 billion dollars past its original budget, NASA’s next great observatory finally launched from the European Space Agency’s Guiana Space Centre in South America.

Axiom Lifts Off with the First Fully Private Crewed Mission to Space

Axiom Mission 1 blasted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center today, setting the standard for commercial space travel with a first-of-its-kind mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

Here Comes Artemis I (Rescheduled, again)

NASA's long-awaited Artemis 1 uncrewed moon mission and next generation of spacecraft has been delayed for a second time. The rocket was initially scheduled to launch on Aug. 29, 2022, at 8:33 AM ET, but was delayed due to an issue with the engine bleed. Watch Space Launch Live: Artemis-1 on Science Channel to see the moment of liftoff. (Launch Date Pending) (Updated Sept 7, 11:00AM)

NASA Has a New Supersonic Jet and It’s Super-Quiet

There’s more to NASA than space. The agency’s full acronym stands for National Aeronautics and Space Administration. I’ve covered plenty of interesting stories in the space sector, so it’s time to the aeronautics side some love too.

We Have Liftoff! NASA/SpaceX Crew-3 Mission is En Route to the ISS

Congrats on a successful liftoff for NASA/SpaceX's Crew-3 Dragon propelled by the Falcon-9 rocket on Wednesday, November 11 at 9:04 PM ET.As this crew makes their way to the International Space Station, NASA will be observing the dragon capsule closely all the way to docking at 7:10 PM ET.

Quiz: Test Your Space Exploration Knowledge

Ahead of the historic May 27th NASA and SpaceX crewed space launch, test your space exploration knowledge!

6 Months in Space Permanently Ages Bones by 10 Years

Astronauts on long-term space missions can experience bone loss equivalent to two decades of aging. New research suggests more weight-bearing exercises in space could help offset that decline.

South Korea Joins Space Race by Sending its First Spacecraft to the Moon

South Korea is launching its first lunar probe to the moon on August 4th. The Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO) or Danuri, developed by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) is being launched to study moon carters, magnetic fields, and surface weathering.

How Astronomers Use a Trick of Gravity to See the Most Distant Objects in the Universe

Let’s say you’re an astronomer (work with me here) and you want to take a picture of something incredibly, deeply far away. You know, the typical business of astronomy.

How Exoplanets Became the Next Big Thing in Astronomy

To date, we know of over 5,000 planets outside the solar system. And astronomers suspect that there may be *checks notes* around a trillion more in our galaxy alone. The search for exoplanets is one of the hottest topics in astronomy, with expensive telescopes and giant collaborations all searching for the holy grail of the 21st century: an Earth 2.0, a habitable world like our own.

Related To: