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Virgin Galactic made a successful trip to space on Saturday, a sign of the progress the space tourism company, founded by Richard Branson, had in its flight schedule delays.
Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity reached an altitude of 89.2 miles before returning two pilots to a New Mexico runway, the company said, marking its first successful flight in two years. The spacecraft also conducted NASA-funded research experiments.
Saturday’s launch brought Virgin Galactic closer to its goal of offering a commercial space flight in 2022, as it competes with Jeff Bezos. Blue Origin and Elon Muskena SpaceX for nascent market businesses.
Virgin Galactic has had several setbacks, among others fatal accident In 2014, on the road to commercial space tourism. Launch this weekend was scheduled for December, but the company canceled the flight due to a problem with electromagnetic interference.
In March, Virgin Galactic had one of its largest sponsors, technology investor Chamath Palihapitiya, the rest of its personal stakes in the company, which sold about $ 200 million.
Palihapitiya, which still has indirect shares through a company to buy a special target that took the Virgin Galactic public, said it continues to support the company’s efforts and will channel the profits to climate initiatives.
Shares of Virgin Galactic fell about two-thirds from a peak of $ 62.80 in February, giving the company a market capitalization of $ 5.1 billion. Shares bounced back this week after Virgin Galactic announced Saturday’s test flight.
Virgin Galactic plans to make three more test flights before it opens to the public next year, putting Blue Origin behind it in a race to launch civilians into space. Sir Richard is expected to take part in the second of the upcoming shots.
Blue Origin has just opened a passenger seat offer for its first commercial space flight high supply $ 2.8 million.
The launch, scheduled for July 20, would be the first commercial flight to pass over the Kármán line, an internationally accepted border between the Earth’s atmosphere and outer space. Virgin Galactic’s test flight crossed the U.S. space boundary.
SpaceX was the first private company to take humans into space last year and eventually plans to launch civilians into low orbit as well.
A spokesman said Virgin Galactic had received $ 85 million in deposits after it sold $ 200,000 worth of tickets for future flights.
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