Two forthcoming space flights by Virgin Galactic have been confirmed; both will be for profit.
The “Galactic 01” will be the first flight, and it will primarily be a scientific research mission, according to the corporation. Three crew members from the Italian Air Force and the National Research Council of Italy will be on board. The objective is to study microgravity.
After the first takeoff in June, “Galactic 02” will be the following trip, and it will start a monthly cadence of commercial flights. The first private astronauts, whose names were withheld from the announcement, will be on “Galactic 02”.
“We are launching the first commercial spaceline for Earth with two dynamic products – our scientific research and private astronaut space missions. This next exciting chapter for Virgin Galactic has been driven by innovation, determination and a commitment to delivering an unparalleled and truly transformative customer experience,”
CEO of Virgin Galactic, Michael Colglazier
The mission will depart from Virgin Galactic’s “Spaceport America” located in rural New Mexico, about 171 miles south of Albuquerque, NM.
Richard Branson launched Virgin Galactic, which calls itself “the world’s first commercial spaceline” and seeks to bring together those who share a passion for space travel. The corporation uses the “Unity” spacecraft for its space operations. In a recent financial statement, the company stated that there is “significant backlog and pent-up customer demand” and that seats were sold for a base price of $450,000.