Richard Branson flew to the edge of space. Here’s what it means for space travel.

Virgin Galactic has already signed up 650 people to fly in its vehicle, including musician Justin Bieber and actor Leonardo DiCaprio, but while they are currently only available to the rich and famous, there is hope that one day it can be cheaper for people. .

Yesterday’s flight wasn’t just about boasting rights. Suborbital flights also allow for important scientific work. “Researchers who fly with their science are very, very valuable,” says Laura Forczyk of the space consulting firm Astralytical. This first flight was an experiment from the University of Florida see how plants respond to microgravity. Future missions will explore how dust behaves on asteroids and practice techniques for space operations.

It’s crucial to lead researchers themselves, such as Alan Stern of Texas’s Southwest Research Institute and NASA’s leader in the New Horizons Pluto mission, rather than relying on remote systems or astronauts on the International Space Station. Stern, for example, will test the astronomical image system previously used in Space Anesthesia It can make useful observations of the solar system.

“Theorized population has been around for 150 years [asteroids] Within the orbit of Mercury, “says Stern.” The best way to look is from space at sunset. At the space station, the sunset phenomenon lasts only 30 seconds, while you’re traveling at 18,000 kilometers per hour. But the phenomenon on SpaceShipTwo or New Shepard continues for minutes. ” .

Of course, there are valid criticisms of two billionaires running into space in the midst of a pandemic, and it’s hard for many of us to afford to travel in the years to come. Scientists including the Branson / Bezos childhood competition should still pave the way for more people to climb than ever before.

“This isn’t just billionaires and the rich,” Forczyk says. “It could be the dawn of a truly commercial tourism space.”

“It shows that the commercial space is ready for the first time,” Williams added.