Virgin Galactic successfully brought its first test passenger to space today
in the company’s second attempt with SpaceShipTwo in 10 weeks – the
fifth attempt overall – to make space, this time reaching higher altitudes and
faster speeds than ever before.
The
three-person crew includes Chief Pilot Dave Mackay, the 569th person to
travel to space and the first Scottish-born astronaut, Pilot Mike “Sooch”
Masucci (570th), as well as Chief Astronaut Instructor and the first woman to
fly aboard a commercial spaceship, Beth Moses (571st). It marks not only the
first time that a non-pilot flew onboard a commercial spaceship to space but
also the first time three people headed off – one of whom floated freely
without restraints.
“Beth,
Sooch and I just enjoyed a pretty amazing flight which was beyond anything any
of us has ever experienced. It was thrilling yet smooth and nicely controlled
throughout with a view at the top, of the Earth from space, which exceeded all
our expectations... For the three of us today this was the fulfillment of
lifelong ambitions, but paradoxically is also just the beginning of an
adventure which we can’t wait to share with thousands of others,” said Mackay
in a statement.
Learn
more here.