Virgin Galactic has just announced its next space mission, Galactic 03, scheduled for September 8. This mission will be the company’s third commercial spaceflight and its eighth space mission overall. The launch will take place from Spaceport America in New Mexico, marking another milestone in the era of commercial space travel.
“The company announced today (Aug. 28) that it’s targeting Sept. 8 for the launch of Galactic 03, its third commercial spaceflight and eighth space mission overall.”
Meet the ‘Founder’ Astronauts: A Long Journey to Space
The Galactic 03 mission will carry three paying customers, who are part of Virgin Galactic’s group of ‘Founder’ astronauts. These early ticket-holders have been waiting since as far back as 2005 to make their dream of space travel a reality.
“The three Galactic 03 crewmembers are the first of Virgin Galactic’s group of ‘Founder’ astronauts — the first customers whose forward-thinking vision and early ticket purchases helped make the dream of regular commercial spaceflights a reality,” Virgin Galactic wrote in a statement today.
They will become the 14th, 15th, and 16th astronauts for Virgin Galactic, joining an exclusive club of space tourists.
The Flight Plan: From Takeoff to Touchdown
The passengers will ride in the VSS Unity, piloted by Nicola Pecile and Michael Masucci. The spacecraft will be carried to an altitude of 50,000 feet by the company’s carrier aircraft, VMS Eve, before making its own journey to suborbital space. Passengers will experience a few minutes of weightlessness and a breathtaking view of Earth against the blackness of space.
“Unity will then fire up its onboard rocket motor, making its own way to suborbital space. The passengers will get to experience a few minutes of weightlessness and see Earth against the blackness of space before coming back down for a runway landing at Spaceport America.”
How Galactic 03 Compares to Previous Missions
The most recent flight, Galactic 02, made history by carrying a former Olympian and a mother-daughter duo to space. The daughter, an 18-year-old college student, became the youngest person ever to reach space, according to Virgin Galactic.
“The most recent such flight, Galactic 02, lifted off on Aug. 10, carrying a former Olympian and a mother-daughter duo to the final frontier for the first time.”
Ticket Prices: Then and Now
Virgin Galactic is currently selling tickets for $450,000. However, the ‘Founder’ astronauts likely secured their seats at a much lower price, as ticket costs have increased over the years.
“Virgin Galactic is currently selling tickets for $450,000, but, given that the three customers on Galactic 03 are ‘founding astronauts,’ they likely didn’t pay that much; the seat price has gone up a few times over the years.”
In Summary:
As Virgin Galactic’s Galactic 03 mission approaches, the excitement is palpable. This mission not only marks another step in commercial space travel but also celebrates the visionaries who believed in this dream more than a decade ago. What are your thoughts on this upcoming mission? Are you excited about the future of commercial space travel? Let us know in the comments below!
