Virgin Galactic launches Unity manned spacecraft for first time since 2021 – Kommersant

Virgin Galactic launched the VSS Unity suborbital spacecraft with a crew of six. The Unity 25 mission spacecraft launched from a spaceport in New Mexico on May 25.

The flight lasted more than an hour, according to press release. VSS Unity is capable of reaching an altitude of about 80 km. The spacecraft returned to Earth in gliding flight mode. The ship itself carried two pilots and four passengers, with two more pilots assisting with the controls from company headquarters.

Virgin Galactic has previously flown five VSS Unity manned flights, but only one was fully loaded with four passengers on board. This flight took place in July 2021 featuring Virgin Galactic owner Richard Branson.

The Unity manned flight that took place the day before was the last before the start of commercial flights. Ticket sales for future commercial flights began as early as 2021. Their cost reaches $450,000, while $150,000 must be deposited by the client, and $25,000 of which are non-refundable.

Laura Keffer