Virgin Galactic founder and billionaire Richard Branson created history on Sunday by flying to the edge of space aboard the Virgin Galactic spaceplane. This is a big achievement for both Branson as well as Virgin. While this was the British billionaire’s first trip to space, it was also the first time when his company has flown a full crew cabin. The carrier aircraft VMS Eve along with the SpaceShipTwo Unity rocket took off at around 8.40 am. The aircraft was handled by former NASA research pilot Kelly Latimer and former NASA astronaut CJ Sturckow. Branson was joined by three employees of the company – Beth Moses, Colin Bennett, and Sirisha Bandla. The pilots at the control of Unity were Dave Mackay and Michael Masucci.
The Unity rocket reached speeds of Mach 3 within minutes of separating from the aircraft and reached a peak altitude of 86 km. The height reached was enough to see the curvature of the Earth. For those who are unaware, the aircraft has been named VMS Eve after Branson’s mother Eve. His mother died of Covid-19 complications in January this year. Describing it as the ‘experience of a lifetime,’ Branson told journalists that the ‘whole thing was just magical.’ The 70-year-old Virgin Galactic founder said that his mother has been a major source of inspiration behind this journey.
Branson tapped a message using a camera onboard the spaceplane. The message addressed to all the kids said – “I was once a child and had dreams. Now I am an adult in a spaceship. If we can do this, just imagine what all can be done by your generation.” At the height of 50 miles, the vehicle remained weightless for a few minutes. This allowed the passengers to enjoy the views of the space. SpaceShipTwo was then glided back to a runway landing. Branson has now announced that it would offer two seats in the upcoming flight through an Omaze contest. The contest also encourages donations for the nonprofit Space for Humanity.
The global heat transfer fluid market is poised to grow at a CAGR of 5.6%…
The Calcium Hypochlorite market is poised for substantial growth, projected to reach around USD 2317.9…
The Sodium Metabisulfite Market is poised for significant growth, with a projected value of USD…
activated alumina market size is expected to be worth around USD 1724 Million by 2033, from USD 1018.9 Million…
The bio fungicides market is poised for significant growth, with projections indicating a valuation of…
The hydrogen generation market is forecasted to see substantial growth, reaching USD 489.2 billion by…
The Hydrogen Peroxide Market, valued at USD 3.2 Billion in 2023, is projected to exhibit…
The global bauxite market exhibited significant value and growth trends over recent years. In 2022,…
The aerogel market has demonstrated significant growth, with its valuation reaching USD 876.5 million in…
biobased disinfectant market size was valued at USD 4.5 Billion and it is estimated to reach USD 8.7 billion…
The Concrete Sealer Market is poised for substantial growth, with projections estimating its value to…
The Ammonium Sulfate Market is poised for significant growth, projected to reach approximately USD 6.1…
The cathode material market, integral to advancements in battery technology, has been valued at USD…
The flat glass market, known for its essential role in various industries, is on a…
The Special Graphite Market, valued at USD 785.5 million in 2022, is projected to reach…
The Black Pellets Market is poised for significant growth, with a projected Compound Annual Growth…
The nanosized alumina market, valued at $3.0 billion in 2022, is expected to grow to…
The global methanol market is on a robust growth trajectory, with projections indicating a rise…
The E-Liquids market is set to experience remarkable growth, with a projected Compound Annual Growth…
The PVC market is anticipated to achieve a substantial valuation of USD 94.7 billion by…