10 August 2023 , 14:53
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Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic has blasted off into space and successfully returned to Earth. The first tourist flight departed and landed back in New Mexico following years of delay.
Six members of the crew launched into space aboard the VSS Unity spaceplane along with a British 80-year-old who bought his ticket 18 years ago and a mum and daughter pair from the Caribbean.
Thousands tuned in to watch the launch, along with the hundreds who travelled to see it in person as the flight marked Virgin Galactic’s third this year. The total flight time will be around 90 minutes. Amazing live pictures of the flight have been released and cameras inside the rocket ship have captured the passengers as they flew into space.
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Following the successful trip, Branson's company will begin offering monthly trip to customers on its space plane, joining Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin in the space tourism industry.
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He first put tickets on sale over a decade ago and sold hundreds for as much as $450,000 and include eighteen-year-old Aberdeen University student Anastatia Mayers and her mum Keisha Schahaff. The pair won a place on the Virgin's Galactic's second commercial flight and will be the first people from the Caribbean to make the journey.
The flight has taken off (Sky News)The trip was Virgin Galactic's seventh trip to space since 2018, but the first with a ticket-holder. Branson, the company's founder, hopped on board for the first full-size crew ride in 2021. Italian military and government researchers soared in June on the first commercial flight. About 800 people are currently on Virgin Galactic’s waiting list, according to the company.
Virgin Galactic embarked on its long-delayed rocket ship ride with space touristsVirgin Galactic passenger Jon Goodwin, who was among the first to buy a ticket in 2005, said he had faith that he would someday make the trip. The 80-year-old athlete — he competed in canoeing in the 1972 Olympics — has Parkinson's disease and wants to be an inspiration to others.“I hope it shows them that these obstacles can be the start rather than the end to new adventures," he said in a statement.
A mother-daughter duo from the Caribbean joined the historic space flightKeisha, 46, was traveling to the UK to sort out her daughter’s visa when she entered the competition. She was on a Virgin Atlantic flight from Antigua to London when suddenly an advert popped up.
“I filled out this sweepstake and then suddenly months later I’m getting correspondences saying that you’re a top 20 finalist, then a top five finalist, to becoming a winner,” she said.
Flight plan called for releasing the plane and firing its rocket to space's edge
Anastatia, who will be the second youngest person to go to space, said she hopes she can use the experience to inspire others. “That would be very important to me, both in Scotland and Antigua and anywhere else I have any ties,” she said.
“I do hope that people are watching and supporting. My intention is to just break any barriers that we set for ourselves or that the world sets for us .I want people to know that it doesn’t matter where you come from, who you are - anything - your dream is your dream and you can make that happen, despite what anyone else says.”
Richard Branson's company planned monthly space trips, rivaling Blue Origin and SpaceXKeisha added: “For me and my daughter together, it’s more than a dream come true. This is my kid, I love her with all my heart, and to know that we both share the same goal, the same dream, that is super over the moon.”
Alongside the lucky two is an 80-year-old with Parkinson’s disease. Former Olympian Jon Goodwin bought his ticket in 2005 for $250,000 and has since developed the brain condition. Mr Goodwin told BBC Breakfast: “I am extremely excited, of course. I leave next week from New Mexico. 10th of August it is.”
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Remarkable pictures capture show some incredible viewsThe employees on board include Commander Frederick Sturckow, Pilot Kelly Latimer, and Astronaut instructor Beth Moses.
Famous stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Russell Brand, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, and Ashton Kutcher, have also bought tickets for a flight.
Ticket prices rose from $200,000 to $450,000; sweepstakes winner joined tooMeanwhile, the wife of intrepid astronaut Jon Goodwin has spoken of her pride just moments before the historic Virgin Galactic launch into space.
Pauline Goodwin told the Mirror that she was “absolutely fine” an hour before taking off in the New Mexico desert. Parkinson’s sufferer Jon emerged at 7.05am local time along with fellow crew members, Aberdeen University student Anastatia Mayers, 18, and her mother Keisha Schahaff.
The three tourists expected to fly (Virgin Galactic)On the tarmac at Spaceport America Pauline spoke exclusively to the Mirror. She said: “I’m absolutely fine. Obviously emotional. It’s been a long time coming. We are very proud.”
Of her inspirational husband’s historic flight she said: “I just hope that people who know of this (Parkinson’s) aren’t held back from something they really want to do and that if they put their minds to it they can do it.”
The Virgin Galactic space flight has successfully launched (Virgin/Getty)Pauline and her two sons reflected on how former businessman Jon has waited 18 years for his flights paying $200,000 for his seat. The cost has now soared to $450,000. Asked about the ticket, Pauline laughed and said: “He thinks he got a bargain”.
Virgin Galactic’s rocket ship launches from the belly of an aeroplane, not from the ground, and requires two pilots in the cockpit. Once the mothership reaches about 50,000 feet (10 miles or 15 kilometres), the space plane is released and fires its rocket motor to make the final push to just over 50 miles (80 kilometres) up.
Virgin founder Richard Branson has dreamt about sending people to space for decades (Bloomberg via Getty Images)Passengers can unstrap from their seats, float around the cabin for a few minutes and take in the sweeping views of Earth, before the space plane glides back home and lands on a runway. In contrast, the capsules used by SpaceX and Blue Origin are fully automated and parachute back down.