What you need to know about Virgin Galactic’s first space tourism flight, which takes off today?

With seats costing between $250,000 (£191,000) and $450,000 (£344,000), Virgin Galactic hopes to make these kind of spaceflights a monthly event. Today marks the launch of Virgin Galactic’s first space tourism journey, which will carry a mother-daughter team and a former Olympian high above the planet.

With seats costing between $250,000 (£191,000) and $450,000 (£344,000), Virgin Galactic hopes to make these kind of spaceflights a monthly event. (Photo: LBC)

Virgin Galactic’s first space tourism flight

In a report from SKY News, it comes after the business’ first commercial mission, which took three Italian people into low orbit for research purposes earlier this summer. The launch on Thursday is being promoted as a fun activity, with some crew members winning their seats in a raffle.

Jon Goodwin, a former Olympian who competed in canoeing at the 1972 Games in Munich, is now on board. The 80-year-old from Newcastle will be only the second Parkinson’s disease sufferer to reach the outer limits of space.

The first astronauts from the Caribbean, whether they are professional or amateur, will be Keisha Schahaff, 46, and Anastatia Mayers, 18. Additionally, they will be the first mother and daughter to fly in space together. While her daughter attends the University of Aberdeen to study philosophy and physics, Ms. Schahaff works as a wellness coach.

The group won’t be traveling to space by themselves, of course. Pilots CJ Sturckow and Kelly Latimer, together with astronaut instructor Beth Moses, will join them.

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The launch window will open at 4 p.m. UK time, and it will take place at Spaceport America in New Mexico. It will see VSS Unity linked to a plane, much to how the now-defunct Virgin Orbit launched a rocket skyward from Newquay back in January.

The spacecraft will be launched once the aircraft has accelerated off the runway and reached release altitude. It will then utilize its potent rocket engine to ascend to a height of around 50 miles above the Earth.

The pilots of the VMS Eve will not make it into orbit. Instead, Mike Masucci and Nicola Pecile will return immediately to the runway. The team that does continue will spend five minutes in weightlessness and take in some breathtaking views before returning to Earth, reports from LBC.

Only about 90 minutes will pass during the entire flight.

The launch will be streamed live on the Sky News website, mobile application, and YouTube channel.

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