Virgin Galatic becomes the first private company to successfully take civilians to space
The civilian space race has been won by Virgin billionaire Sir Richard Branson. Virgin Galatic becomes the first private space craft to rocket civilians into space. At an estimated cost of $250,000 for a thirty minute space ride, a trip to outer space is reserved for the super rich.
“The Unity 22 mission was a twenty-second flight test for VSS Unity and the Company’s fourth crewed spaceflight. It was also the first to carry a full crew of two pilots and four mission specialists in the cabin, including the Company’s founder, Sir Richard Branson, who will be testing the private astronaut experience.” Said Branson
In little over a week from now, billionaire Jeff Bezos will also make his maiden voyage to sub orbit with his brother, flight crew and a mystery guest. That mystery guest paid a staggering $29 million dollars at an auction to head to space with Bezos. This trip to outer space for the Amazon founder will come just before he steps down its C.E.O.
Although Branson and Bezos are becoming the front runners in civilian travel to space market, they are still playing catchup to Elon Musk. Musk was the first private company to launch astronauts into space earlier this year and docked with the international space station.
Musk’s Space X company has since launched dozens of rockets to outer space carrying cargo to the crew aboard the International Space Station. Space X has now become the NASA’s Uber for getting cargo and astronauts to and from space.
The prospect of civilians travelling to space is fascinating as it opens the door for endless possibilities. That being said, unless you can fork over quarter of a million dollar at minimum, space travel for the time being, is reserved for the mega rich.
Image source Virgin Galatic
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