Virgin Galactic Completes Final VSS Unity Commercial Spaceflight

Virgin Galactic recently achieved a significant milestone by successfully completing its final commercial flight with the VSS Unity spaceplane. This marks the second mission of the year for the Richard Branson-founded company, which continues to pave the way in the realm of space tourism. The mission, dubbed Galactic 07, saw four passengers from Turkey, the United States, and Italy reach the edge of space and return safely.

The VSS Unity carried payloads for scientific research. Purdue University investigated the behavior of propellant slosh in microgravity, while the University of California, Berkeley, tested 3D printing technologies in space. These experiments underscore the dual nature of Virgin Galactic’s missions, combining tourism with valuable scientific inquiry.

Among the passengers was Turkish research astronaut Tuva Atasever, who shared her profound experience post-flight. Atasever was not just a tourist; she conducted several scientific experiments during the flight. Her research included using sensors to monitor how the human brain processes the sight of Earth from space. This experimental aspect of the mission was deemed a huge success, contributing valuable data to the scientific community.

Commanding the mission was Nicola Pecil, accompanied by pilot Jameel Janjua. Their expertise ensured the safe and successful completion of the flight, solidifying Virgin Galactic’s reputation for reliability and innovation in commercial space travel.

In addition to Atasever, the flight included Andy Sadhwani, a propulsion engineer at SpaceX; Irving Pergament, a New York real estate developer; and Giorgio Manenti, an Italian investment manager residing in London. These private citizens each brought their unique backgrounds and perspectives to the mission, further highlighting the diverse appeal of space tourism.

The journey began and concluded at Spaceport America in New Mexico. The VSS Unity ascended to an altitude of approximately 55 miles (88.51 km), with the entire trip lasting a little over an hour. This mission was particularly notable as it was the last commercial flight for the VSS Unity, with Virgin Galactic now focusing on the development of its fourth-generation spaceships, expected to begin service in 2026.