Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity reached space for the first time

On December 13, 2018, Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity successfully reached space for the first time, marking a major milestone in Richard Branson’s efforts to make commercial space travel a reality. The spacecraft, piloted by Mark Stucky and Frederick Sturckow, flew to an altitude of 51.4 miles (82.7 kilometers) above Earth’s surface, crossing the U.S. Air Force’s definition of the edge of space. This flight marked Virgin Galactic’s fourth test flight and its first to officially reach space. The mission represented a significant achievement in Branson’s long-term vision for Virgin Galactic, as it aimed to pave the way for space tourism. The spacecraft reached Mach 2.9, nearly three times the speed of sound, during its ascent. This successful flight was the first time a crewed vehicle built for commercial service had reached space since the end of NASA’s Space Shuttle program. Branson expressed his excitement, stating that the achievement was a giant leap toward opening space to more people. It moved Virgin Galactic closer to its goal of regularly taking paying passengers on suborbital trips, offering them the experience of weightlessness and a view of Earth from space. #MomentsOfLife #MoofLife_Moment #MoofLife #RichardBranson #VirginGalactic #SpaceTravel #VSSUnity #2018 #SpaceExploration #CommercialSpaceflight