As Democrats look to wrest control of the U.S. House of Representatives in November, their fight will fully begin with Tuesday’s primaries in California. And their immediate trouble is not Republicans. It’s Democrats themselves. In the Republican-held Central Valley district stretching from Bakersfield to Fresno, which would have favored President Biden by 13 percentage points […]
Read MoreTag: Virgin Galactic
New Mexico’s Spaceport America Is an Economic Dream Deferred
From his tiny gem store in southern New Mexico, Robert Hanseck spends his days untangling chakra beads and answering questions about the healing properties of amethyst crystals. After four decades behind the register, he has met thousands of wellness-minded tourists eager to explore the hot springs that span the region. But he almost never sees […]
Read MoreVirgin Galactic to ground its VSS Unity space plane next year: report
The impressive flight cadence of Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity space plane won’t last much longer. Unity flew for the sixth time in as many months last week, carrying two research scientists and another private passenger to and from suborbital space on a mission called Galactic 05. Unity will now get a bit of a break, […]
Read MoreVirgin Galactic launches researchers to suborbital space on 5th commercial flight
SPACEPORT AMERICA, New Mexico — Virgin Galactic’s reusable space plane VSS Unity lifted off again today (Nov. 2) , continuing the one-mission-per-month tempo the company began this spring. Today’s flight, called Galactic 05, carried two research scientists and one other private passenger, along with VSS Unity’s crew, to suborbital space. It marked the fifth commercial spaceflight […]
Read MoreVirgin Galactic launches researchers to suborbital space on 5th commercial flight (video)
SPACEPORT AMERICA, New Mexico — Virgin Galactic’s reusable space plane VSS Unity lifted off again today (Nov. 2) , continuing the one-mission-per-month tempo the company began this spring. Today’s flight, called Galactic 05, carried two research scientists and one other private passenger, along with VSS Unity’s crew, to suborbital space. It marked the fifth commercial spaceflight […]
Read MoreVirgin Galactic set to launch Galactic 05 mission with research duo on Nov. 2
Virgin Galactic is set to take off on its fifth commercial spaceflight since it began the service last summer. Galactic 05 is scheduled to lift off from Spaceport America in New Mexico on Thursday (Nov. 2) at around 9 a.m. MDT (10 a.m. EDT; 1400 GMT). The mission will carry three passengers as well as […]
Read MoreVirgin Galactic set to launch Galactic 05 mission with research duo today (Nov. 2)
Virgin Galactic is set to take off on its fifth commercial spaceflight since it began the service last summer. Galactic 05 is scheduled to lift off from Spaceport America in New Mexico on Thursday (Nov. 2) at around 9 a.m. MDT (10 a.m. EDT; 1400 GMT). The mission will carry three passengers as well as […]
Read MoreVirgin Galactic astronaut Kellie Gerardi is ready for broader access to space
Meet Virgin Galactic astronaut Kellie Gerardi. She works as mission operations lead for Palantir Technologies and as a payload specialist and bioastronautics researcher for the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS). She’s also an author, a mom, a social media STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) influencer with a resume of qualifications too long to […]
Read MoreNew Horizons’ Alan Stern will fulfill a lifelong dream on Virgin Galactic spaceflight this week
When Alan Stern launches to suborbital space this week on Virgin Galactic’s fifth commercial flight, he’ll accomplish the goal of a lifetime. But it won’t be all play — Stern will be working during almost the entire mission. That won’t dilute the joy of fulfilling his childhood dream, however. Growing up in the Apollo era, […]
Read MoreMeet the crew of Virgin Galactic’s 5th commercial spaceflight launching on Nov. 2
On pace with its once-a-month flight goal, Virgin Galactic is about to embark on its fifth commercial mission, and likely its final flight of 2023. Galactic 05 is scheduled to lift off this Thursday (Nov. 2) and will carry three passengers on a brief trip to suborbital space. The trio will fly aboard Virgin Galactic’s […]
Read MoreVirgin Galactic sets date, announces crew for 5th commercial spaceflight
Virgin Galactic’s next trip to the edge of space will include some familiar names. The company announced on Wednesday (Oct. 18) that Galactic 06, its fifth commercial spaceflight, has a flight window that opens on Nov. 2, 2023. The flight will be Virgin Galactic‘s sixth spaceflight in as many months and will see its reusable […]
Read MoreVirgin Galactic launches 1st Pakistani to space on 4th commercial spaceflight
Virgin Galactic continues to make spaceflight history. The company successfully sent a Pakistani to space for the first time on its “Galactic 04” mission, which lifted off from New Mexico’s Spaceport America this morning (Oct. 6). That passenger was adventurer Namira Salim, founder and chairperson of the nonprofit Space Trust. Today’s milestone comes less than […]
Read MoreVirgin Galactic launches 1st Pakistani to space on 4th commercial spaceflight (video)
Virgin Galactic continues to make spaceflight history. The company successfully sent a Pakistani to space for the first time on its “Galactic 04” mission, which lifted off from New Mexico’s Spaceport America this morning (Oct. 6). That passenger was adventurer Namira Salim, founder and chairperson of the nonprofit Space Trust. Today’s milestone comes less than […]
Read MoreVirgin Galactic to launch Galactic 04 space tourist flight Oct. 6. Here’s what to expect
Virgin Galactic is keeping pace with the company’s monthly flight cadence, and is targeting Oct. 6 for the launch of their fourth commercial mission, Galactic 04. Three space tourists are scheduled to launch on a suborbital trajectory aboard Virgin Galactic‘s reusable space plane, VSS Unity. Virgin Galactic has not announced a time for Friday’s flight, […]
Read MoreMeet the crew of Virgin Galactic’s 4th commercial spaceflight launching on Oct. 6
Virgin Galactic is preparing for its fourth commercial spaceflight mission. Galactic 04 will carry a three-person crew accompanied by the company’s head astronaut instructor, as well as the two pilots at the helm of Virgin’s SpaceShipTwo vehicle, VSS Unity. Their flight to the edge space is scheduled to take place on Friday, (Oct. 6). The […]
Read MoreVirgin Galactic delays next flight by 1 day, to Oct. 6
Virgin Galactic has delayed its next space tourism mission by a day, to Friday (Oct. 6). The slip will “give our team an additional day to complete vehicle prep and checks. We look forward to taking to the skies in a few days!” Virgin Galactic wrote via X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday (Oct. 1). The […]
Read MoreVirgin Galactic’s next flight will take a Pakistani to space for the 1st time
Namira Salim will make spaceflight history next month. The adventurer will become the first Pakistani to reach space on Virgin Galactic‘s next mission, called “Galactic 04,” which is scheduled to launch from New Mexico’s Spaceport America on Oct. 5. “Thrilled to take to the #stars with @trevorbmbagency and @ronrosano aboard #Galactic04 with @virgingalactic. Inspiring #girls […]
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