Virgin Galactic: Four Flights to Space in Four Months

Virgin Galactic, the world's first commercial spaceline, has achieved an impressive feat of flying four times to space in four months, with three of them being part of its inaugural commercial spaceflight season. The company has demonstrated its ability to safely and reliably launch and land its spaceship VSS Unity, as well as provide a unique and exhilarating experience for its customers, who are among the first private astronauts in history.

The first of the four flights was on July 11, 2021, when Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson and five other crew members became the first to fly on board VSS Unity as part of a fully crewed test flight³. The flight reached an altitude of 53.5 miles (86.1 kilometers) above the Earth's surface, where the crew experienced several minutes of weightlessness and enjoyed the stunning views of the planet and the blackness of space. The flight also carried scientific experiments from NASA and the University of Florida, making it the first research mission for Virgin Galactic³.

The second flight was on August 22, 2021, when Virgin Galactic launched its first private astronaut mission, 'Galactic 02'². The flight carried three paying customers: Sirisha Bandla, Colin Bennett, and Kellie Gerardi, who are all employees of Virgin Galactic's sister companies. They joined two pilots and Beth Moses, the chief astronaut instructor, on board VSS Unity. The flight reached an altitude of 55.45 miles (89.2 kilometers) above the Earth's surface, where the crew conducted various experiments and activities related to human health, biotechnology, education, and art².

The third flight was on September 8, 2021, when Virgin Galactic flew its second private astronaut mission, 'Galactic 03'¹. The flight carried three more paying customers: Ken Baxter, Timothy Nash, and Adrian Reynard, who are among the first customers to sign up for Virgin Galactic's spaceflights. They joined two pilots and Beth Moses on board VSS Unity. The flight reached an altitude of 55 miles (88.5 kilometers) above the Earth's surface, where the crew enjoyed the views and sensations of spaceflight¹.

The fourth flight was on October 6, 2021, when Virgin Galactic completed its third private astronaut mission, 'Galactic 04'⁴. The flight carried four paying customers: Kevin Chilton, Mark Kelly, Anousheh Ansari, and Jared Isaacman, who are all former or current astronauts from NASA or SpaceX. They joined two pilots and Beth Moses on board VSS Unity. The flight reached an altitude of 56 miles (90 kilometers) above the Earth's surface, where the crew performed various experiments and demonstrations related to space exploration and innovation⁴.

With these four flights, Virgin Galactic has proven its capability to operate regular and frequent spaceflights for a variety of customers and purposes. The company has also shown its commitment to making space accessible and affordable for more people around the world. Virgin Galactic plans to continue its commercial spaceflight season with more flights in the coming months, as well as prepare for its future home at Spaceport America in New Mexico.