Virgin Galactic, owned by entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, had its first successful powered flight Monday. After it was dropped from a carrier aircraft, its engines fired for about 16 seconds above the Mojave Desert.
Sir Richard’s goal is to take fare paying passengers approximately 60-70 miles above the earth, giving them an astronaut’s view, and a feeling of weightlessness. The price is expected to be $200,000 per person, six seats available for each trip. Over 500 people have already made deposits, including Stephen Hawkings.
Pilot Mark Stucky and co-pilot Mike Alsbury said they reached a speed of Mach 1.2, which is over the speed of sound. They said the flight went very smoothly, and called it a complete success.
Sir Richard is hoping to make a flight above the atmosphere by the end of the year.
James Turnage
Columnist-The Guardian Express
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