Virgin Galactic announced Friday that it has become the first company to get permission from the Federal Aviation Administration to bring customers to space.
The Historical ArchivesFAA's decision came around a month after Virgin Galactic's successful test flight of the VSS Unity, a model in the company's SpaceShipTwo class of spaceplanes. Two pilots on the VSS Unity climbed to an altitude of 55.5 miles before landing on Earth on May 22, completing the company's third crewed suborbital spaceflight.
Thus far, Virgin Galactic has only had approval to fly employees on its spaceplanes. The new clearance will allow billionaire and Virgin founder Richard Branson to head into space aboard a SpaceShipTwo. It's not likely that Branson will make it to space before fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos, whose ascent is planned for July 20, as Virgin Galactic stated it still needs to test its spaceplanes with full crews.
Virgin Galactic hasn't laid out a specific plan for its fully crewed test flights, but in Friday's announcement, the company said they'll begin this summer.
SpaceShipTwo was first revealed to the world in 2009, and its first test flight was in 2013. The VSS Unity first crossed the barrier into space in 2018.
Fellow private space companies Blue Origin (headed by Bezos) and SpaceX are also gunning for FAA approval for customers. Blue Origin's New Shephard rocket has gone on several successful uncrewed test flights, including an astronaut rehearsal flight in April. SpaceX has run three crewed flights on its Crew Dragon spacecraft, including one crewed test and two operational flights to the International Space Station, but it has not moved into crewed tests for its Starship rocket.
While these three companies all harbor similar space tourism goals, Virgin Galactic's approach is about as different as you can get mechanically. SpaceX and Blue Origin rockets launch vertically from the ground. Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo launches horizontally from the air.
As shown in the video above, the VSS Unity is taken into the upper atmosphere under a mother ship dubbed White Knight Two, which takes off from a runway like most airplanes. Then White Knight Two releases the spaceplane, which takes off and begins a vertical climb. When it lands, it lands like an airplane.
If you're keen on getting up into space, you can register on the Virgin Galactic website. You may need to wait a while though, and cough up quite a bit of change.
5 Ways to Access a Locked Windows Account
This is why #Marmitegate is more important than you think
Illuminated hero dresses as Pixar lamp for school's 'Disney Day'
Bust out the GIFs, the New York Times just gave Trump a legal burn
Today's Hurdle hints and answers for April 23, 2025
Bob Dylan wins Nobel Prize in Literature
What do all of the 2016 Nobel Prize winners have in common?
Samsung estimates Note7 fallout at about $3.1 billion
Best iPad deal: Save $100 on 13
Irate commuter plays glorious game of Mad Libs with train company ad
New MIT report reveals energy costs of AI tools like ChatGPT
Nigeria says 21 abducted Chibok schoolgirls freed in swap
Nigeria says 21 abducted Chibok schoolgirls freed in swap
When Michelle Obama goes high, she takes every woman with her
President Trump says semiconductor tariffs are next
Shark breaking into diver's cage is the stuff of nightmares
You can now watch Facebook video on your TV
Hillary Clinton, like everyone else, is 'in awe' of Michelle Obama's speech
Get Rid of Windows 10 Ads, Office Offers and Other Annoyances
Remember that $4.8 billion Yahoo deal? Verizon is having second thoughts
Artist and mom of twins harmoniously pairs working and breastfeedingApple unveils iPhone 7 and 7 Plus without headphone jackThe iPhone 7 will apparently have stereo speakers after allRiver turns red in Russia just like in your worst Biblical nightmareColin Kaepernick says he'll donate profits from NFL's hottestThis may be the most brutally effective Facebook prank of all timeAre wool sneakers the future of footwear? Some investors think so.Nike and Apple ask: Are we running today? Internet responds: No.Mosaic sushi will satisfy your obsession with neatness and foodThe Apple Watch Nike+ will ask you if you want to go for a runDehydration is on trend, according to Kanye West's latest fashion showThis may be the most brutally effective Facebook prank of all timeMagical cat isn't even sorry he rolled in the bathtub and got covered in glitterWhat your childhood school lunch said about youCam Newton's mom reads a passage from 'Watership Down' in new Under Armour adMagical cat isn't even sorry he rolled in the bathtub and got covered in glitterThe 5 biggest takeaways from the Apple eventMario is finally coming to mobile in 'Super Mario Run'Amity is a new messaging app that's going to have to fight for survivalCam Newton's mom reads a passage from 'Watership Down' in new Under Armour ad These posters for national parks should absolutely terrify you IBM patents design for delivery drones to transfer payloads in mid Man photobombs live TV interview with spectacular Dr. Evil impression Finally! 'Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite' shows off some big upgrades. Apple shares photos and video of its fancy new store in Dubai English aristocrat blocks broadband plan, villagers fight back This creepy face hiding in a lamp post is freaking the internet out Wake up, sheeple: Your favorite political insult is now officially a word Microsoft is blocking some PCs from getting the Windows 10 Creators Update A late icon turns the camera on himself in 'I Am Heath Ledger' Sobering visualizations reveal how sea level rise could transform cities in your lifetime Google's massive Street View camera backpack is heavy AF Stock trading app Robinhood raises $110 million to become the latest unicorn Mark Zuckerberg, man of the people, visits assembly line and discovers it's 'hard' Amazon's screen Facebook finally lets creators claim ad revenue when their videos are stolen Scarlett Johansson invited her grandma doppelgänger to party with her at a movie premiere If you disable and re Mating kangaroos are literally blocking traffic in Australia Kim Kardashian spill details about Paris robbery and why she is estranged from Caitlyn Jenner
2.5338s , 8200.6875 kb
Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【Historical Archives】,Inspiration Information Network