Virgin Galactic Holdings, announced the completion of its first spaceflight of 2024 and 11th mission to date. The ‘Galactic 06’ flight marked the first time all four seats aboard VSS Unity were occupied by private astronauts.
Onboard ‘Galactic 06’:
Michael Colglazier, CEO of Virgin Galactic, said: “Today the incredible team at Virgin Galactic supported another successful mission and delivered an unforgettable experience for four new astronauts. The success of ‘Galactic 06’ and the Company’s other commercial spaceflights in recent months only increases our confidence in the repeatability of our product and our ability to deliver a superlative experience to our customers. With the production of our next-generation Delta-class ships underway, we look forward to expanding our flight capacity with testing expected to start next year and commercial service in 2026.”
The launch was watched from the ground at Spaceport America by more than 150 guests alongside Virgin Galactic’s team. VSS Unity was commanded by C.J. Sturckow with pilot Nicola Pecile. Michael Masucci commanded mothership VMS Eve joined by pilot Dan Alix.
‘Galactic 06’ Flight Facts
- Take-off Time: 10:00 am MT
- Altitude at Release: 44,493 ft
- Apogee: 55.2 miles
- Top Speed: Mach 2.98
- Landing Time: 10:56 am MT
The Company’s next mission, expected in the second quarter of 2024, will include both a researcher and private astronauts. More information on that mission will be announced soon.
Click here to learn more about Virgin Galactic's Spaceflight Experience.
