<h5><strong>What is Virgin Galactic?</strong></h5><p>Virgin Galactic is an American spaceflight company founded in 2004 by Sir Richard Branson and the Virgin Group. The company's headquarters is in California, USA, and it operates from New Mexico (another US state). Virgin Galactic is the world's first commercial spaceline.</p><p>The company’s mission is to provide space travel opportunities to people interested in space. The company also aims to change how one can go to space and give more people a chance to observe the Earth from a new perspective.</p><p>The company also hopes to inspire young people about the wonders of space through Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) activities.</p><p>Recently, on 29th June 2023, Virgin Galactic conducted its first commercial spaceflight (wow!). The Galactic 01 mission crew safely returned to Earth onboard the Virgin Space Ship (VSS) Unity after a successful spaceflight.</p><h5>What do we know about this spaceflight?</h5><figure class="image"><img src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/newsahoot.appspot.com/o/virgin-galactic-completes-its-first-commercial-spaceflight%2FVSS-unity-galactic01%20(1).jpeg?alt=media&amp;token=0cdb6b20-6c2b-4404-b995-7a1bd512aea7"><figcaption>VMS Eve and VSS Unity before launch. Photo by Virgin Galactic.</figcaption></figure><p>The Galactic 01 mission was carried out using the carrier aircraft Virgin MotherShip (VMS) Eve and the spacecraft VSS Unity. The carrier aircraft, VMS Eve, lifted off from Spaceport America in New Mexico, carrying the spacecraft VSS Unity. After reaching an altitude of around 44,500 feet, it released VSS Unity.</p><p>VSS Unity then used its rockets to reach suborbital space. After completing the flight successfully, it landed back on Earth. The VSS Unity spacecraft crew included two Italian Air Force astronauts, an engineer-astronaut from the Italian National Research Council, and an astronaut-instructor from Virgin Galactic.</p><p>A retired American Air Force commander, and a former Italian Air Force pilot, flew the spacecraft. The carrier aircraft VMS Eve was flown by a retired American Air Force commander and a retired Canadian Air Force pilot.</p><p>The suborbital flight was for 90 minutes. The crew experienced a few minutes of weightlessness (floating around like astronauts) and unfurled the Italian flag.</p><h5>What was the objective of the Galactic 01 mission?</h5><div class="raw-html-embed"><figure> <video width="100%" height="350" controls=""> <source src="https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/newsahoot.appspot.com/o/virgin-galactic-completes-its-first-commercial-spaceflight%2Fgalactic01-italia.mp4?alt=media&amp;token=30bde7e9-ed88-484b-9624-f7d5c1bcfee1" type="video/mp4"> </video> <figcaption>A video of the Galactic 01 mission. Video by Virgin Galactic.</figcaption> </figure></div><p>The VSS Unity carried 13 scientific payloads. Virgin Galactic's first commercial spaceflight was dedicated to carrying out various research. The research ranged from the bio-medical area to the development of revolutionary sustainable materials.</p><p>The Galactic 01 mission's success comes at a time when other private companies, like SpaceX and Blue Origin, are also developing private spaceflights.</p><h5>What’s next for Virgin Galactic and its private spaceflights?</h5><p>The company expects this successful mission to begin a new era of private spaceflights. The successful mission also gives hope that the company can now fly hundreds of individuals to space.</p><p>Virgin Galactic announced that its second commercial spaceflight, Galactic 02, will take place in early August 2023. There are plans for monthly spaceflights scheduled after that. The company has already sold over 800 seats for flights on the spacecraft. Tickets can cost up to $450,000. The company plans to launch around 400 flights each year.</p><p>So, would you like to visit space on one such flight? Please tell us in the comments section.</p>

The commercial spaceflight was conducted using VMS Eve and VSS Unity.

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