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Virgin Galactic launches tourists to edge of space
2023.08.11 02:48
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: VSS Unity rocket operated by Virgin Galactic lands after the company’s first commercial flight to the edge of space, at the Spaceport America facility, in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, U.S., June 29, 2023. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez/File
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Virgin Galactic on Thursday blasted three tourists to the edge of space aboard its air-launched VSS Unity spaceplane, a live stream showed, the Richard Branson-founded company’s second commercial mission as it starts routine flights.
The rocket-powered VSS Unity craft dropped from the carrier plane over New Mexico around 9:20 a.m. local time and blasted its four passengers, a company instructor and three tourists, to an altitude of roughly 55 miles (88.51 km).
(This story has been corrected to rectify the spelling of Branson in paragraph 1)