Virgin Galactic has taken another step toward commercial space tourism with a successful test flight that included its first non-pilot passenger.
On its second test mission last month, the spacecraft Unity flew with two pilots and astronaut trainer Beth Moses aboard. The flight, occurring just two months after Unity’s initial test, reached roughly three times the speed of sound and climbed to the edge of space.
This mission was notable because it marked the first time a non-pilot rode on Unity. Moses joined the flight to evaluate cabin design elements and passenger experience, according to a Virgin Galactic spokesperson.
Pilots Dave Mackay and Michael Masucci reached an altitude of 55.9 miles during the flight and, alongside Moses, earned astronaut status. Their journey places them among the fewer than 600 people who have flown to space.
Unity is configured to carry up to six passengers plus two pilots. The observations and feedback Moses provided during this flight will contribute directly to refining the cabin and operational procedures as Virgin Galactic advances toward commercial service.
The mission profile involved a horizontal takeoff carried out by the mothership WhiteKnightTwo from an altitude near 45,000 feet. After release, Unity accelerated to about Mach 3 as it climbed to its peak altitude, then reentered the atmosphere and glided back to a safe runway landing at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California.