Virgin Galactic’s passenger rocket airplane VSS Unity, carrying billionaire Richard Branson and crew, begins its ascent to the sting of area above Spaceport America close to Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, U.S. July 11, 2021, in a nonetheless picture from video.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Space tourism firm Virgin Galactic Holdings mentioned on Monday {that a} four-member check flight will happen in May and that it goals to launch its first commercial flight in late June.
Shares jumped 4% after the corporate mentioned the May mission could be the ultimate check of the spaceflight system and astronaut expertise earlier than it opens up for commercial providers.
The firm, backed by billionaire Richard Branson, had in May final 12 months delayed its commercial service to the primary quarter of 2023 due to supply-chain disaster and labor scarcity.
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After finishing a prolonged improve for its centerpiece vacationer spacecraft in February, Virgin Galactic re-opened ticket gross sales for spacecraft flights, setting the value at $450,000 per individual with an preliminary deposit of $150,000.
“Returning to space is what we have all worked towards,” mentioned Mike Moses, president of spaceline missions and security.
The mission crew will include Jamila Gilbert, Christopher Hue, Luke Mays and Beth Moses.
