Sir Richard Branson's space tourism venture, Virgin Galactic, achieved a significant milestone as it successfully concluded its highly anticipated first commercial spaceflight, Galactic 01, on 29th June 2023 Thursday.
Departing from Spaceport America in New Mexico, the spacecraft, piloted by a skilled duo, carried a total of four passengers. Among them were a Virgin Galactic trainer overseeing the mission and the company's first trio of paying customers, all of whom serve in the Italian Air Force.
The flight also accommodated 13 research payloads. With Galactic 01 deemed a triumph, the company plans to launch its second mission as early as August and subsequently aims to conduct monthly flights utilizing its VSS Unity spacecraft.
Despite the successful flight, Virgin Galactic's stock experienced a 10% decline on Thursday. To support the development of its upcoming Delta class of spacecraft, the company continues to raise capital to establish a fleet capable of weekly flights.
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