Page 6 - Aerotech News and Review, May 28, 2021

Virgin Galactic completes first human spaceflight from NM

Galactic CEO. “Space travel is a bold barked on a journey to create the world’s
and adventurous endeavour, and I am first commercial spaceport,” said Sir
incredibly proud of our talented team Richard Branson. ‘’Today, we launched
for making the dream of private space the first human spaceflight from that
travel a reality. We will immediately very same place, marking an important
begin processing the data gained from milestone for both Virgin Galactic and
this successful test flight, and we look New Mexico. I am proud of the team for
forward to sharing news on our next their hard work and grateful to the peo-
planned milestone.” ple of New Mexico who have been un-
Virgin Galactic fulfilled a number of
test objectives during the flight, includ- wavering in their commitment for com-
ing: mercial spaceflight from day one. Their
• Carried revenue-generating sci- belief and support have made today’s
entific research experiments as part of historic achievement possible.” New
NASA’s Flight Opportunities Program. Mexico Governor Lujan Grisham said,
• Collected data to be used for the final “After so many years and so much hard
two verification reports that are required work, New Mexico has finally reached
as part of the current FAA commercial the stars. Our state’s scientific legacy has
reusable spacecraft operator’s license. been honored by this important achieve-
• Tested the spaceship’s upgraded ment, one that took guts and faith and an
horizontal stabilizers and flight controls unwavering belief in what New Mexico
and validated EMI reductions. can achieve — and indeed is destined
Following the flight, and in line with to achieve.
normal procedures, Virgin Galactic will “I can’t wait to see what comes next.
conduct a review of all test data gathered We are on the cutting edge, the forefront
Virgin Galactic photograph and thoroughly inspect the spaceship and of innovation, and I plan to do everything
mothership. Once the team confirms the
Virgin Galactic completed its third Spaceport America. On VSS Unity’s Sands National Park sparkled brilliantly results, the company plans to proceed to in my power to keep us there, taking full
spaceflight and the first ever spaceflight flight deck were CJ Sturckow and Dave below. the next flight test milestone. advantage of our robust economic and
from Spaceport America, N.M., May 22. Mackay, while Kelly Latimer and Mi- Their experience today gives Virgin To celebrate the first human space- scientific potential,” Grisham continued.
Today’s flight sees New Mexico be- chael Masucci piloted VMS Eve. Galactic’s Future Astronaut customers flight from New Mexico, the Zia Sun “On behalf of proud New Mexicans ev-
come the third U.S. state to launch hu- CJ, who flew as pilot-in-command, a glimpse of what lies ahead. Symbol of New Mexico’s state flag was erywhere, I’m incredibly grateful to so
mans into space. becomes the first person ever to have “Today’s flight showcased the inher- placed prominently on the exterior of the many dedicated and visionary collabo-
VSS Unity achieved a speed of Mach flown to space from three different ent elegance and safety of our space- Spaceship. In addition, they flew green rators in this effort, not least Sir Richard
3 after being released from the mother- states. The crew experienced extraordi- flight system, while marking a major chili seeds, which are synonymous with Branson and former Governor Bill Rich-
ship, VMS Eve, and reached space, at nary views of the bright, blue-rimmed step forward for both Virgin Galactic the state’s rich agricultural and culinary ardson, the entire Virgin Galactic team
an altitude of 55.45 miles before glid- curvature of the earth against the black- and human spaceflight in New Mex- history. and Spaceport team who made possible
ing smoothly to a runway landing at ness of space. New Mexico’s White ico,” said Michael Colglazier, Virgin “Fifteen years ago, New Mexico em- this long-awaited day.”

WE’RE ALL IN

THIS TOGETHER.

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health as an industry. We see it as a
cause. And one that we very much
believe in. During this extraordinary
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heroism of our frontline workers. And,
we would like to express our deepest
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Learn more at kp.org.

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