On June 29, the VSS Unity spacecraft, carried by the VMS Eve carrier aircraft, took off from Spaceport America in New Mexico. With the rocket motor firing, Unity reached the edge of space, allowing the four passengers, including two Italian Air Force officers and a National Research Council engineer, to conduct microgravity research experiments and enjoy the view of Earth. After a successful mission lasting approximately 14 minutes, Unity glided back to Spaceport America. Virgin Galactic plans to start its commercial spaceflight service in the coming months, with the next flight scheduled for August.
Virgin Galactic's inaugural commercial suborbital flight took place on June 29, carrying researchers and experiments from Italy into space. The VSS Unity spacecraft, commanded by Mike Masucci and Nicola Pecile, separated from the carrier aircraft at 45,000 ft and reached an altitude of 279,000 ft. The four passengers on board, including two Italian Air Force officers and a National Research Council engineer, conducted microgravity experiments and enjoyed the view of Earth. The mission was deemed a success, and Virgin Galactic aims to begin its commercial spaceflight service soon, with the next flight planned for August.
