Virgin Galactic has announced the launch of their first fully crewed spaceflight with the Unity 22 Mission test flight window opening on July 11, 2021. Four Mission Specialists will evaluate the experience, including company founder Sir Richard Branson.
On Thursday (July 1st, 2021), Virgin Galactic announced that the window for their first fully crewed spaceflight will open on July 11, 2021. The flight will include four mission specialists to evaluate the Virgin Galactic Astronaut experience, including company founder Sir Richard Branson. Additionally, the mission will be the first spaceflight that is livestreamed globally. The Unity 22 Mission will be the twenty-second test flight for VSS Unity and the company’s fourth crewed spaceflight. The mission will also be the first to include a full crew of two pilots and four mission specialists.
In Thursday’s announcement, Virgin Galactic’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael Colglazier, said,
“Our next flight—the 22nd flight test for VSS Unity and our first fully crewed flight test—is a testament to the dedication and technical brilliance of our entire team, and I’d like to extend a special thank you to our pilots and mission specialists, each of whom will be performing important work. Tapping into Sir Richard’s expertise and long history of creating amazing customer experiences will be invaluable as we work to open the wonder of space travel and create awe-inspiring journeys for our customers.”
Also commenting on the historic spaceflight, Sir Richard Branson added,
“I truly believe that space belongs to all of us. After more than 16 years of research, engineering, and testing, Virgin Galactic stands at the vanguard of a new commercial space industry, which is set to open space to humankind and change the world for good. It’s one thing to have a dream of making space more accessible to all; it’s another for an incredible team to collectively turn that dream into reality. As part of a remarkable crew of mission specialists, I’m honoured to help validate the journey our future astronauts will undertake and ensure we deliver the unique customer experience people expect from Virgin.”
Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPCE) is a vertically integrated aerospace and space travel company, pioneering spaceflight for researches and individuals, as well as a manufacturer of advanced air and space vehicles. The company is developing a spaceflight system designed to offer customers a unique and transformative experience.
Source: Virgin Galactic
Comments