It’s time to pack your bags, folks, because space tourism is finally here! Virgin Galactic, the space exploration company founded by billionaire Richard Branson, is set to take paying customers to the final frontier by the end of August. And with a four-day launch window beginning June 27, the company is ready to embark on its first commercial flight to space with a crew of three specialists from the Italian Air Force and the National Research Centre of Italy.
But before you start booking your ticket, be aware that it comes with a hefty price tag. A seat on Virgin Galactic’s 90-minute ride to space costs a whopping $450,000. That’s right, you could buy a house or a luxury car for the same amount of money. However, for those who can’t afford the high price, the company will offer live streams of both its initial missions on its website, virgingalactic.com.
Virgin Galactic’s announcement has been a long time coming. The company faced a setback in 2021 when the Federal Aviation Administration grounded its flights to investigate a July 11 space flight amid concerns that it deviated off-course with Branson on board. However, the company completed its final test flight last month, known as the Unity 25 mission, and is now ready to take paying customers on brief trips to space.
“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,” said Virgin Galactic CEO Michael Colglazier in a statement.
But Virgin Galactic isn’t the only company in the space race. Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin was recently selected as the second provider for lunar lander services for NASA’s Artemis program and was awarded a $3.4 billion contract. The company has been in a heated space race with Branson’s Virgin Galactic for years, and its New Shepard rocket developed for space tourism was expected to return to flight by the end of 2023 after the vehicle suffered a mid-flight failure in September.
Despite the competition, Virgin Galactic is confident in its ability to deliver a unique and transformative experience to its customers. The company’s final test flight reached an altitude of 54.2 miles before gliding back down to the runway, offering a few minutes of weightlessness for its passengers.
So, are you ready to blast off into space? Pack your bags (and your wallet) and get ready for the ride of a lifetime with Virgin Galactic.
References
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/06/06/nasa-psyche-mission-october-launch-metallic-asteroid/70292286007/
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2022/02/15/virgin-galactic-tickets-space-trip/6795121001/
- https://www.virgingalactic.com/
- https://www.blueorigin.com/
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/05/19/nasa-blue-origin-artemis/70236663007/
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2022/11/14/amazon-jeff-bezos-plans-give-fortune-away/10695838002/
- https://www.amazon.com/?ots=1&slotNum=0&imprToken=d6c4623d-da9f-9a10-065
- https://www.space.com/jeff-bezos-blue-origin-first-astronaut-launch
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- https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/09/12/blue-origin-jeff-bezos-rocket-launch-failure/10359412002/
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/06/16/virgin-galactic-commercial-flights-space-price/70329010007/
