“Virgin Galactic made history by taking a former Olympian, a super enthusiastic University of Aberdeen student, and her awesome mom to the edge of space”
10 August, Thursday Virgin Galactic takes its passengers up really high, almost to space’s edge. Then, it smoothly glided back down to a special runway at Spaceport America in the New Mexico desert. When the rocket ship part of the trip started, there were lots of loud cheers from the families and friends of the passengers who were watching. This exciting part lasted around 15 minutes, and the rocket ship went up as high as 56 miles (88 kilometers) above the ground.
Taking a ride with Virgin Galactic was quite the diverse crew! Onboard, there was the sprightly 80-year-old British Olympian, Jon Goodwin, showing age is just a number. And let’s not forget about the dynamic duo from the Caribbean – a mom and her daughter – adding a touch of tropical flair to the journey.
First Private Customer Flight
After a bunch of delays, the very first private customer flight finally happened – and it was a total success. This awesome achievement means that Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic is all set to kick off super cool monthly rides. They’re joining the space tourism gang alongside Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and Elon Musk’s SpaceX. It’s like a party up there in the stars.
Flight ticket bought in 2005
Back in 2005, Mr. Goodwin purchased his ticket for a cool $200,000 (Current price is $450,000)– a real investment in a unique adventure. However, life had a surprise twist for him: a diagnosis of Parkinson’s, which threw a curveball in his plans. Amidst uncertainty, he held onto a glimmer of hope, an aspiration to one day venture beyond our world’s boundaries.
In a testament to his resilience and unwavering spirit, the former athlete, undeterred by his condition, embarked on this extraordinary space odyssey. Beyond his personal journey, he had a poignant message to convey – a message that resonated with people grappling with Parkinson’s and other challenges. His flight into the cosmos was a vivid proclamation that setbacks need not define us; they need not eclipse our dreams.
It was a powerful reminder that even in the face of adversity, the human spirit can transcend limitations, echoing the sentiment that “it doesn’t stop you from doing things.” A remarkable voyage, indeed, both within and beyond the celestial expanse.
Seventh space trip for Virgin Galactic since 2018
This marked Virgin Galactic’s seventh incredible voyage into the great beyond since 2018, and what made it even more special was that it was the very first time a ticket-holder was on board. You see, Branson, the mastermind behind the company, embarked on the maiden full-size crew escapade back in 2021. And in a spectacular June flight, Italian military and government researchers took to the skies on the initial commercial journey. The excitement is truly soaring, with around 800 eager folks presently on Virgin Galactic’s waitlist, as revealed by the company itself.
Now, here’s where things take a twist. While Virgin Galactic takes off from a plane-launched rocket ship, SpaceX and Blue Origin do things a bit differently. Their capsules are like the stars of a sci-fi flick, fully automated and gracefully parachuting back to Earth after their cosmic adventures. It’s like comparing different chapters in the spacefaring storybook
Just like Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin is all about going to the edge of space with fast trips up and down, right from West Texas. They’ve taken 31 folks up into the sky until now. But, there’s a little pause in their flights after a rocket had a crash last autumn. Thankfully, the part of the ride that held experiments (not people) came back and landed safely.
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