Richard Branson is set to become the first billionaire to travel to space on July 11; 2021
By NOEMI. Last Update: 09 July 2021. Business. Entertainment.
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Richard Branson is set to become the first billionaire to fly to space aboard Virgin Galactic’s July 11, 2021 flight just nine days ahead of fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin launch. If the flight goes as planned, Richard Branson will be the first billionaire to launch to space aboard his own company’s commercial vehicle.
“I am so proud and excited to be flying to space on Virgin Galactic’s next rocket-powered test flight. I’ve always been a dreamer. This July our dream will become a reality. It’s one thing to have a dream of making space more accessible to all; it’s another for an incredible team to collectively turn that dream into reality.” Richard Branson said about his upcoming fly to space.
The 70-year-old Branson and his Unity 22 crew will depart from the launch site in New Mexico on Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity SpaceShipTwo vehicle. Pilots Dave Mackay and Michael Masucci will be flying VSS Unity, and CJ Sturckow and Kelly Latimer flying VMS Eve. Joining the mission will also be crew specialists Beth Moses, Chief Astronaut Instructor; Colin Bennett, Lead Operations Engineer; and Sirisha Bandla, Vice President of Government Affairs and Research Operations.
“After more than 17 years of research, engineering, and innovation, Virgin Galactic stands at the vanguard of a new commercial space industry, which is set to open space to humankind and change the world for good,” Richard Branson said in a company statement.
Branson talked about his dreams and his mother’s influence in his life “I’ve always been a dreamer. My mum taught me to never give up and to reach for the stars. On July 11th, it’s time to turn that dream into a reality aboard the next Virgin Galactic spaceflight, in the company of this brilliant crew of mission specialists.”
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Jeff Bezos is also planning a trip to space on July 20; 2021 aboard a rocket made by Blue Origin. One of the main differences between the spacecraft is that Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity requires two pilots to fly, while Jeff Bezos’ New Shepard is fully automated.
Both Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin have been aiming to bring tourists into space. The FAA has cleared Virgin Galactic to start launching customers. Virgin Galactic plans to begin its regular commercial service next year. The most recently price for a Virgin Galactic seat was $250,000, and more than 700 people have reserved seats aboard Virgin Galactic space flights, according to company’s news. Blue Origin has not yet released its per-seat pricing, although an anonymous auction winner paid $28 million to fly to space on July 20 together with Jeff Bezos, Bezos’ brother Mark and Mercury 13 aviator Wally Funk.
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Where can you watch Richard Branson fly to space on Sunday?
Virgin Galactic will livestream the spaceflight as Richard Branson flies to the edge of space aboard a Virgin Galactic rocket plane this coming Sunday July 11; 2021. You can view the complete coverage Branson’s VSS Unity flight on Youtube embedded below. The livestream is set to start at 6am PT; 7am MT; 9 am ET; 2pm BST this coming Sunday.
