Richard Branson won the “billionaire space race” on Sunday — launching himself and five others more than 50 miles above the earth to the point of weightlessness in his own Virgin Galactic rocket.
via: Fox Business
The Virgin Group founder launched Sunday with three company employees, flying 53 miles above the earth in a final test mission before kicking off commercial space flights next year. Branson – who earned his pilot’s license – tested the astronaut cabin experience.
Take-off! The #Unity22 crew including @RichardBranson leave Spaceport America, New Mexico for #VirginGalactic’s first fully-crewed spaceflight. pic.twitter.com/RxGYp90nu8
— Virgin Galactic (@virgingalactic) July 11, 2021
A photo released by the company showed Branson and the three others in zero gravity.
Welcome to the dawn of a new space age #Unity22 @virgingalactic pic.twitter.com/Rlim1UGMkx
— Richard Branson (@richardbranson) July 11, 2021
After landing, Branson tweeted that going to space was “more magical than I ever imagined.”
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 (@richardbranson) July 11, 2021
Branson tweeted a photo of him with SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk Sunday morning, saying he is “feeling good, feeling excited, feeling ready.”
“Big day ahead,” Branson wrote. “Great to start the morning with a friend.”
Big day ahead. Great to start the morning with a friend. Feeling good, feeling excited, feeling ready.
Watch #Unity22 launch and livestream TODAY at 7:30 am PT | 10:30 am ET | 3:30 pm BST.@virgingalactic @elonmusk https://t.co/1313b4RAKI pic.twitter.com/FRQqrQEbH8
— Richard Branson (@richardbranson) July 11, 2021
Crowds greeted Branson as he arrived for the launch. He waved, smiled and flashed a thumbs up in return.
The company reported that overnight weather prevented crews from starting flight preparations and delayed liftoff by 90 minutes.
“The future of space tourism in New Mexico is getting one step closer!” Virgin Galactic tweeted Saturday.
They rode in SpaceShipTwo – Virgin’s craft designed for tourism – to reach suborbital space. The vessel was built by Virgin Galactic’s sister company, The Spaceship Company, according to Space.
SpaceShipTwo already set records by flying beyond the U.S. Air Force’s defined boundary of space in 2018, reaching an altitude of 51.4 miles.
Elon Musk offered his best wishes and “Godspeed!” for the Virgin Galactic flight.
Thanks for being so typically supportive and such a good friend, Elon. Great to be opening up space for all – safe travels and see you at Spaceport America! #Unity22 @virgingalactic https://t.co/fLCoeJOPJJ
— Richard Branson (@richardbranson) July 10, 2021
Rival tech billionaire Jeff Bezos, who has raced with Branson to be the first into space with his Blue Origin spaceflights, sent his own well-wish Saturday ahead of Unity 22.
“Wishing you and the whole team a successful and safe flight tomorrow,” Bezos wrote in an Instagram caption alongside a smiling picture of Branson. “Best of luck!”
What do the flat earthers think about all of this.
VSS Unity reached:
A speed of Mach 3
A space altitude of 53.5 milesWatch the full flight at https://t.co/5UalYT7Hjb#Unity22 pic.twitter.com/Kcgai497Nd
— Virgin Galactic (@virgingalactic) July 11, 2021
