Virgin Galactic's Richard Branson takes off for high-altitude launch into space
3 years, 5 months ago

Virgin Galactic's Richard Branson takes off for high-altitude launch into space

India Today  

A twin-fuselage jet took off on Sunday carrying a Virgin Galactic rocket plane primed to soar more than 50 miles above the New Mexico desert with British billionaire Richard Branson aboard in the vehicle's first fully crewed test flight to space. Virgin Galactic's passenger plane parked before Richard Branson departs with his crew for travel to the edge of space. An earlier prototype of the Virgin Galactic rocket plane crashed during a test flight over California's Mojave Desert in 2014, killing one pilot and seriously injuring another. Blue Origin has disparaged Virgin Galactic as falling short of a true spaceflight experience, saying that unlike Unity, Bezos's New Shepard tops the 62-mile-high-mark, called the Kármán line, set by an international aeronautics body as defining the boundary between Earth's atmosphere and space.

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History of this topic

All aboard! Virgin Galactic flies its first tourists to the edge of space
1 year, 4 months ago

All aboard! Virgin Galactic flies its first tourists to the edge of space

LA Times  

Space tourists, from left, Anastatia Mayers, Jon Goodwin and Keisha Schahaff prepare to board their Virgin Galactic flight at Spaceport America, near Truth or Consequences, N.M. Virgin Galactic rocketed to the edge of space with its first tourists Thursday, including a former British Olympian who bought his ticket 18 years ago and a mother-daughter duo from the Caribbean. Richard Branson’s …

‘Someone is seriously…’: Netizens slam Virgin Galactic's ‘space flight’ which happened after Titan submersible mishap
1 year, 5 months ago

‘Someone is seriously…’: Netizens slam Virgin Galactic's ‘space flight’ which happened after Titan submersible mishap

Hindustan Times  

Space trips and deep sea explorations are two very risky adventures which put human lives at stake. Less than a week after the Titan incident, Branson's Virgin Galactic has flown paying customers to space on Thursday. Virgin Galactic's ‘space flight’, Titan submersible Though the passengers successfully undertook the trip and landed safely, Branson and his company drew the ire of …

Virgin Galactic sends first paying customers to space: Who all flew, What next
1 year, 5 months ago

Virgin Galactic sends first paying customers to space: Who all flew, What next

Hindustan Times  

In a long-awaited commercial debut, Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc. on Thursday sent paying customers to the edge of space for the first time, a milestone in the emerging private spaceflight sector. The VSS Unity craft reached space at about 9:30am local time in New Mexico, carrying six people on board, including researchers from the Italian Air Force and the National …

Virgin Galactic successful in first commercial space flight
1 year, 5 months ago

Virgin Galactic successful in first commercial space flight

Hindustan Times  

Virgin Galactic successfully flew its first paying customers to the final frontier Thursday, a long-awaited achievement that puts it back on track in the emerging private spaceflight sector. The flight came almost two years after Virgin Galactic's founder Richard Branson flew to space in a test flight meant to usher in a new era of lucrative space tourism. But the …

Virgin Galactic’s first commercial space flight safely lands
1 year, 5 months ago

Virgin Galactic’s first commercial space flight safely lands

Al Jazeera  

Passengers and crew on VSS Unity rocket plane go for 75-minute suborbital ride to edge of space in landmark flight. Virgin Galactic, the company founded by United Kingdom entrepreneur Richard Branson in 2004, has successfully completed its first commercial flight to the edge of space. Two Italian air force officers and an aerospace engineer from the National Research Council of …

Dream of going to space? Virgin Galactic just launched commercial flights
1 year, 5 months ago

Dream of going to space? Virgin Galactic just launched commercial flights

LA Times  

Three Italian researchers and a Virgin Galactic employee flew to the edge of space on the company’s first commercial flight. On Thursday, that hype finally became reality when three Italian researchers boarded the VSS Unity space plane as Virgin Galactic’s first paying passengers and flew about four minutes in suborbital space. Business Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson plans to visit space …

Who are the crew on Virgin Galactic flight Galactic 01?
1 year, 5 months ago

Who are the crew on Virgin Galactic flight Galactic 01?

Daily Mail  

Here is a look at the four passengers on board Virgin Galactic flight Galactic 01 Virgin Galactic customers who have splashed out hundreds of thousands of dollars on a trip to space are finally set to be rewarded. From left to right: Col. Walter Villadei, Pantaleone Carlucci, Lt. Col. Angelo Landolfi and Colin Bennett, the crew members who will be …

Virgin Galactic completes final test flight before launching paying customers to space
1 year, 6 months ago

Virgin Galactic completes final test flight before launching paying customers to space

Associated Press  

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M — Virgin Galactic completed what is expected to be its final test flight Thursday before taking paying customers on brief trips to space, marking what the space tourism company described as a “fantastic achievement” in what has been a long road to commercial operations. The flight came nearly two years after founder Richard Branson beat fellow billionaire and …

Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic successfully sends four people to space
1 year, 6 months ago

Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic successfully sends four people to space

Daily Mail  

Billionaire Richard Branson is back in the space race. Federal aviation authorities banned Virgin Galactic launches after Branson's maiden flight in 2021 led to an investigation when it veered off course during its descent back to the runway in the New Mexico desert. The VSS Unity spaceplane hung 54.2 miles above Earth's surface for three minutes, allowing the space tourists …

Branson's Virgin Galactic re-opens ticket sales for spaceflight
2 years, 10 months ago

Branson's Virgin Galactic re-opens ticket sales for spaceflight

India Today  

Billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc said on Tuesday it is re-opening ticket sales for upcoming space travel to the general public from Feb. 16, driving its shares more than 10% higher in premarket trading. "We plan to have our first 1,000 customers on board at the start of commercial service later this year," Virgin Galactic Chief Executive Officer …

Branson's Virgin Galactic to resume spaceflight after FAA closes mishap probe
3 years, 2 months ago

Branson's Virgin Galactic to resume spaceflight after FAA closes mishap probe

India Today  

The US Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday said it closed its mishap investigation into the July 11 Virgin Galactic Unity 22 launch, which deviated from assigned airspace on descent, and lifted a grounding order the regulator imposed earlier. The FAA said Virgin Galactic had implemented changes the agency required on how it communicates during flight and that the company will …

Virgin Galactic sees delay to space mission with Italian Air Force
3 years, 3 months ago

Virgin Galactic sees delay to space mission with Italian Air Force

The Hindu  

Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc on Friday flagged a delay to its first commercial research mission with the Italian Air Force to mid-October due to a potential manufacturing defect. Virgin Galactic said on Friday a third-party supplier warned of a potential manufacturing defect in a component of the flight control system during test flight preparations. The mission was initially set for …

US aviation agency probes Branson’s Virgin Galactic flight deviation
3 years, 3 months ago

US aviation agency probes Branson’s Virgin Galactic flight deviation

Live Mint  

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday it is investigating a deviation in the descent of the flight of the Virgin Galactic rocket plane that carried British billionaire Richard Branson to the edge of space on July 11. Virgin Galactic acknowledged in a statement to Reuters that "the flight’s ultimate trajectory deviated from our initial plan" but added it "did …

Richard Branson's flight to space went off-course, deviated from path; under investigation
3 years, 3 months ago

Richard Branson's flight to space went off-course, deviated from path; under investigation

India Today  

The flight carrying Richard Branson to the edge of space could have ended up landing on the desert plain after warning lights flashed on the pilot's console indicating that the flight path was too shallow and the nose of the ship was insufficiently vertical. The US Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a deviation of the flight of the Virgin Galactic …

Virgin Galactic will raise ticket prices to fly its spaceplane for four minutes
3 years, 4 months ago

Virgin Galactic will raise ticket prices to fly its spaceplane for four minutes

Firstpost  

If you were hoping to buy a ticket to space on one of Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic space planes, you’ll probably wish you bought one seven years ago. Michael Colglazier, Virgin Galactic’s chief executive, acknowledged during a call with industry analysts as the company announced its quarterly earnings that the higher price would lead to higher revenues and please shareholders. …

Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson flies to space: How Twitter reacted to Unity 22 launch
3 years, 5 months ago

Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson flies to space: How Twitter reacted to Unity 22 launch

Firstpost  

At an altitude of about 13 kilometres, Unity detached from the mothership and breached Mach 3 as it shot into space. 🙄 pic.twitter.com/wqXpLNed7X — Dana Smith 🐶🇺🇦🌵 July 11, 2021 I have dreamt about this moment since I was a child, but going to space was more magical than I ever imagined https://t.co/Wyzj0nOBgX #Unity22 @virgingalactic pic.twitter.com/grs7vHAzca — Richard Branson July …

Space is for all humanity: 'Astronaut' Richard Branson
3 years, 5 months ago

Space is for all humanity: 'Astronaut' Richard Branson

India TV News  

With the historic flight to the edge of space on Sunday, astronaut Richard Branson has opened the doors for all humans to visit space. Branson on Sunday touched the edge of space with three employees, including one of Indian-origin, and landed safely back to Earth, onboard his company Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity. "With today's successful flight of VSS Unity, I'm …

An Incredible, Life-changing Experience to See Earth from Space: Bandla
3 years, 5 months ago

An Incredible, Life-changing Experience to See Earth from Space: Bandla

News 18  

Indian-American astronaut Sirisha Bandla says it was an incredible” and a “life-changing” experience to see the Earth from space during her maiden trip on Virgin Galactic’s first fully-crewed suborbital test flight and hopes the price tag for space travel will come down in future. Bandla, a 34-year-old aeronautical engineer on Sunday joined British billionaire Richard Branson and four others on …

Richard Branson Carries Sirisha Bandla on Shoulders to Celebrate Space Travel
3 years, 5 months ago

Richard Branson Carries Sirisha Bandla on Shoulders to Celebrate Space Travel

News 18  

Virgin Galactic founder, billionaire Richard Branson and his crew completed a successful spaceflight on Sunday. After they returned to earth, Branson carried Indian-American crew member Sirisha Bandla on his shoulders while celebrating their flight to space, at Spaceport America near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, on July 11. As part of the six-member crew alongside the founder of Virgin Galactic …

Billionaire Richard Branson reaches space in his own ship
3 years, 5 months ago

Billionaire Richard Branson reaches space in his own ship

Associated Press  

TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, N.M. — Swashbuckling billionaire Richard Branson hurtled into space aboard his own winged rocket ship Sunday, bringing astro-tourism a step closer to reality and beating out his exceedingly richer rival Jeff Bezos. Branson’s other chief rival in the space-tourism race among the world’s richest men, SpaceX’s Elon Musk, came to New Mexico to watch and congratulated Branson …

A Long Wait: How Richard Branson Finally Realised His ‘Space Dream’
3 years, 5 months ago

A Long Wait: How Richard Branson Finally Realised His ‘Space Dream’

News 18  

Richard Branson finally got his trip to space Sunday. Cars drove Branson and his crewmates to the plane Sunday, and the flight took off Sunday morning around 10:40 a.m. Eastern time from Spaceport America in New Mexico, about 180 miles south of Albuquerque. The space plane separated from the carrier ship around 11:25 a.m. and ignited its engine for about …

Virgin Galactic Spaceship Carrying Richard Branson Touches Down, Creates History
3 years, 5 months ago

Virgin Galactic Spaceship Carrying Richard Branson Touches Down, Creates History

News 18  

A Virgin Galactic spaceship carrying Richard Branson touched down Sunday after a voyage the British billionaire called an “experience of a lifetime.” “Congratulations to all our wonderful team at Virgin Galactic for 17 years of hard hard work to get us this far,” he said during a live feed as the VSS Unity spaceship glided back to Spaceport America in …

Richard Branson flies to the edge of the space in his rocket
3 years, 5 months ago

Richard Branson flies to the edge of the space in his rocket

Op India  

British billionaire Richard Branson rode a rocket of his company Virgin Galactic to fly to the edge of space today. Richard Branson lifted off to space today on #Unity22 Virgin Galactic, marking a historic spaceflight https://t.co/JnnHUZpagi pic.twitter.com/4tCjy2UQyj — CBS News July 11, 2021 The billionaire is joined by five company employees who are took off to space in a company …

Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson ready for space launch
3 years, 5 months ago

Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson ready for space launch

Live Mint  

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - British billionaire Richard Branson was due on Sunday to climb into his Virgin Galactic passenger rocket plane and soar more than 50 miles above the New Mexico desert in the vehicle's first fully crewed test flight to the edge of space. This image provided by Virgin Galactic shows, from left, Chief Pilot Dave Mackay, Lead Operations …

Richard Branson and Virgin Galactic crew go to the edge of space and back
3 years, 5 months ago

Richard Branson and Virgin Galactic crew go to the edge of space and back

LA Times  

In 2004, British billionaire Richard Branson proclaimed he would fly into space on his company’s spaceship in just three years to kick off what he hoped would become a routine travel experience, drinks and all. Branson, along with five other Virgin Galactic employees — two pilots and three others who were testing parts of the in-cabin experience, including research opportunities …

A look at childhood photographs of Indian-American astronaut Sirisha Bandla before she zooms off into space
3 years, 5 months ago

A look at childhood photographs of Indian-American astronaut Sirisha Bandla before she zooms off into space

India Today  

Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson is flying into space on board the first fully crewed flight of his SpaceShipTwo aircraft, Unity 22, on Sunday along with three crew mates and two pilots. The 33-year-old, born in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, is the second Indian-born woman in space and the fourth Indian to ever achieve the feat after Rakesh …

17 years after founding Virgin Galactic, Richard Branson to fly into space
3 years, 5 months ago

17 years after founding Virgin Galactic, Richard Branson to fly into space

India Today  

He's always dreamed of it, and in 2004 founded his own company to make it happen. On Sunday, billionaire Richard Branson will take off from a base in New Mexico aboard a Virgin Galactic vessel bound for the edge of space. READ: Bezos, Branson put everything on the line as billionaires ride own rockets into space The Amazon founder's great …

Richard Branson flies to space: When and where to watch Sirisa Bandla's Virgin Galactic Unity 22 space flight
3 years, 5 months ago

Richard Branson flies to space: When and where to watch Sirisa Bandla's Virgin Galactic Unity 22 space flight

India Today  

The billionaire space race is about to be flagged off with Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson ready to soar into the blue on board the first fully crewed flight of his SpaceShipTwo aircraft, Unity 22, on Sunday. READ: Richard Branson to fly into space | Bet you didn't know his Indian roots WHEN AND WHERE TO WATCH THE UNITY 22 …

Richard Branson, Sirisha Bandla fly to space: Watch Virgin Galactic Unity 22 flight here
3 years, 5 months ago

Richard Branson, Sirisha Bandla fly to space: Watch Virgin Galactic Unity 22 flight here

India Today  

As the race to commercialise space travel tightens, Virgin Galactic takes the lead as Richard Branson flies in his Unity 22 flight to the edge of space today. Watch Richard Branson, Sirisha Bandla’s Virgin Galactic flight here: The WhiteKnight aircraft, VMS Eve, will carry a rocket-powered spaceship VSS Unity. The agenda of the suborbital flight is to promote space tourism, …

Billionaire Blastoff: Rich riding own rockets into space
3 years, 5 months ago

Billionaire Blastoff: Rich riding own rockets into space

Associated Press  

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Two billionaires are putting everything on the line this month to ride their own rockets into space. The lucrative, high-stakes chase for space tourists will unfold on the fringes of space — 55 miles to 66 miles up, pitting Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson against the world’s richest man, Blue Origin’s Jeff Bezos. But some at Blue …

Overwhelmed with joy, says family of Indian-American astronaut Sirisha Bandla flying to space with Branson
3 years, 5 months ago

Overwhelmed with joy, says family of Indian-American astronaut Sirisha Bandla flying to space with Branson

India Today  

Days after Virgin announced that India-born Sirisha Bandla would be joining Richard Branson on his maiden space flight, her grandfather said that he was "overwhelmed with joy". Sirisha, 33, who was born in the Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh, will fly onboard Virgin Galactic's July 11 test flight that will take her beyond the edge of the Earth's atmosphere. A …

Richard Branson will be launching into space along with Virgin Galactic crew on 11 July test flight
3 years, 5 months ago

Richard Branson will be launching into space along with Virgin Galactic crew on 11 July test flight

Firstpost  

He founded Virgin Galactic in 2004 to provide short space tourist flights to the edge of space and has said he will be a passenger on the first commercial flight. Seeking to upstage Jeff Bezos as the first rocket company owner to go to space, Richard Branson, the British billionaire who founded a galaxy of Virgin companies, announced Thursday night …

Sir Richard Branson to reach space before Jeff Bezos on July 11
3 years, 5 months ago

Sir Richard Branson to reach space before Jeff Bezos on July 11

The Hindu  

Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Galactic, is set to reach space eleven days earlier than Jeff Bezos. Branson’s space company announced its first fully-crewed space flight is schedule to fly on July 11. "I'm honoured to help validate the journey our future astronauts will undertake and ensure we deliver the unique customer experience people expect from Virgin,” Branson said. …

Richard Branson aims to make space trip on July 11, ahead of Jeff Bezos
3 years, 5 months ago

Richard Branson aims to make space trip on July 11, ahead of Jeff Bezos

Business Standard  

Branson's July 11 mission will be the twenty-second flight test for VSS Unity, and the company's fourth crewed spaceflight, Virgin said. By Eric M. Johnson SEATTLE - Billionaire entrepreneur Richard Branson will travel to the edge of space on Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc's test flight on July 11, Branson's space tourism firm said on Thursday, beating out fellow aspiring billionaire …

Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson plans to visit space before Jeff Bezos
3 years, 5 months ago

Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson plans to visit space before Jeff Bezos

LA Times  

Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson, shown in 2019, said this week that he’s “ready, fit and healthy to go” to space. Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson is aiming to beat fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos into space by nine days. Branson is to be joined on his flight by Beth Moses, Virgin Galactic’s head astronaut instructor; Colin Bennett, the company’s lead operations …

Branson's Virgin Orbit launches 7 satellites from 747 plane
3 years, 5 months ago

Branson's Virgin Orbit launches 7 satellites from 747 plane

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic given US government approval to take passengers into space
3 years, 5 months ago

Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic given US government approval to take passengers into space

ABC  

Virgin Galactic finally has the US government’s approval to start launching customers into space from New Mexico. Key points: Virgin Galactic plans to launch its first fully crewed flight this US summer A review of the company's third flight to space in May was successful and paved the way for approval More than 600 people have already reserved a ride …

Virgin Galactic gets FAA’s OK to launch customers to space
3 years, 5 months ago

Virgin Galactic gets FAA’s OK to launch customers to space

Associated Press  

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Virgin Galactic finally has the federal government’s approval to start launching customers into space from New Mexico. Unlike Blue Origin’s and SpaceX’s fully automated capsules launched from the ground by reusable rockets, Virgin Galactic uses a winged spacecraft that launches from the belly of an airplane and requires a pair of pilots. A review of the …

Virgin Galactic gets FAA's approval to launch customers to space
3 years, 5 months ago

Virgin Galactic gets FAA's approval to launch customers to space

India Today  

Virgin Galactic finally has the federal government’s approval to start launching customers into space from New Mexico. “But we don’t have any announcements about Virgin Galactic’s future flight plans at this time.” Watch | Virgin Galactic completes first flight in over two years Unlike Blue Origin’s and SpaceX’s capsules launched from the ground by reusable rockets, Virgin Galactic uses a …

Richard Branson 'could beat Jeff Bezos to space by flying two weeks before Amazon founder'
3 years, 6 months ago

Richard Branson 'could beat Jeff Bezos to space by flying two weeks before Amazon founder'

Daily Mail  

It looked like Jeff Bezos was on the verge of winning the billionaire space race by revealing plans to fly to space ahead of rivals Elon Musk and Sir Richard Branson. If true, it would see Branson, 70, fly to space on his VSS Unity SpaceShipTwo rocket plane over the July 4 weekend, while 57-year-old Bezos would have to wait …

Virgin Galactic reaches edge of Earth's atmosphere for the first time with two pilots
3 years, 6 months ago

Virgin Galactic reaches edge of Earth's atmosphere for the first time with two pilots

Firstpost  

Virgin Galactic on Saturday made its first rocket-powered flight from New Mexico to the fringe of space in a manned shuttle, as the company forges toward offering tourist flights to the edge of the Earth’s atmosphere. British billionaire and Virgin Galactic founder Sir Richard Branson said the flight and landing bring the roughly 15-year-old venture tantalizingly close to commercial flights …

Virgin Galactic shares jump after announcing it will test the SpaceShipTwo Unity on Saturday
3 years, 7 months ago

Virgin Galactic shares jump after announcing it will test the SpaceShipTwo Unity on Saturday

Daily Mail  

Shares of the Richard Branson-founded Virgin Galactic soared by nearly 25 percent in early Thursday trading after the space tourism company assuaged fears of a delay and confirmed that it would complete its next test flight on Saturday. Scroll down for video Shares of Virgin Galactic have whipsawed in recent trading as the broader market comes under pressure and concerns …

Virgin Orbit rocket launched from 747 wing deploys nine CubeSats in successful second attempt
3 years, 11 months ago

Virgin Orbit rocket launched from 747 wing deploys nine CubeSats in successful second attempt

Firstpost  

Richard Branson’s Virgin Orbit reached space on Sunday, eight months after the first demonstration flight of its air-launched rocket system failed, the company said. “Everyone on the team who is not in mission control right now is going absolutely bonkers.” The rocket’s upper stage coasted for a period, reignited to circularize the orbit and then deployed the nine CubeSats. The …

Virgin Galactic unexpectedly aborts test flight of its space tourism plane
4 years ago

Virgin Galactic unexpectedly aborts test flight of its space tourism plane

CNN  

Austin, Texas CNN Business — Virgin Galactic’s supersonic rocket plane was scheduled to fire into the upper atmosphere Saturday, but after climbing more than 40,000 feet over New Mexico attached to its mothership, the space plane made an unexpected turn toward home rather than shooting skyward. We will check the vehicle and be back to flight soon.” A follow-up statement …

Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson still plans to be the first ‘space billionaire’ to actually travel to space
4 years, 1 month ago

Virgin Galactic’s Richard Branson still plans to be the first ‘space billionaire’ to actually travel to space

CNN  

New York CNN Business — Richard Branson, the thrill-seeking British billionaire, founded Virgin Galactic in 2004 on the promise that a privately developed spacecraft would make it possible for hundreds of people to become astronauts, no NASA training required. This time it came from Michael Colglazier, the recently installed CEO of Virgin Galactic whose goal is to guide the company …

Virgin Galactic reveals the interiors of its SpaceShipTwo Cabin that will take tourists to space
4 years, 4 months ago

Virgin Galactic reveals the interiors of its SpaceShipTwo Cabin that will take tourists to space

Firstpost  

The passengers clad in space suits designed by the Under Armour company will be able to leave their seats and float about the cabin. Passengers flying Virgin Galactic on suborbital trips into space will be able to see themselves floating weightless against the backdrop of the Earth below while 16 cameras document the adventures, the company said Tuesday. Experience space …

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