NEW MEXICO: British billionaire Richard Branson on Sunday soared more than 50 miles above the New Mexico desert aboard his Virgin Galactic rocket plane and safely returned in the vehicle's first fully crewed test flight to space, a symbolic milestone for a venture he started 17 years ago.
Branson, one of six Virgin Galactic Holding Inc employees strapped in for the ride, has touted the mission as a precursor to a new era of space tourism, with the company he founded in 2004 poised to begin commercial operations next year.
"We’re here to make space more accessible to all," an exuberant Branson, 70, said shortly after embracing his grandchildren following the flight. "Welcome to the dawn of a new space age."
The success of the flight also gave the flamboyant entrepreneur bragging rights in a highly publicized rivalry with fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos, the Amazon online retail mogul who had hoped to fly into space first aboard his own space company's rocket. "Congratulations on the flight," Bezos said on Instagram. "Can’t wait to join the club!"
Space industry executives, future customers and other well-wishers were on hand for a festive gathering to witness the launch, which was livestreamed in a presentation hosted by late-night television comedian Stephen Colbert. Among those present was fellow billionaire and space industry pioneer Elon Musk, who also is founder of electric carmaker Tesla Inc .
Grammy-nominated R&B singer Khalid took the stage after the flight to perform his forthcoming single "New Normal."
The gleaming white spaceplane was carried aloft on Sunday attached to the underside of the dual-fuselage jet VMS Eve (named for Branson's late mother) in a takeoff from Spaceport America, a state-owned facility near the aptly named town of Truth or Consequences. Virgin Galactic leases a large section of the facility.
Reaching its high-altitude launch point at about 46,000 feet, the VSS Unity passenger rocket plane was released from the mothership and fell away as the crew ignited its rocket, sending it streaking straight upward at supersonic speed to the blackness of space some 53 miles (86 km) high.
The spaceplane's contrail was clearly visible from the ground as it soared through the upper atmosphere, to the cheers of the crowd below.
At the apex of the climb with the rocket shut down, the crew then experienced a few minutes of microgravity, before the spaceplane shifted into re-entry mode, and began a gliding descent to a runway back at the spaceport. The entire flight, from takeoff to landing, lasted about an hour.
"I was once a child with a dream looking up to the stars. Now I'm an adult in a spaceship looking down to our beautiful Earth," he said in a video from space.
Back at a celebration with supporters from a stage outside Virgin Galactic's Gateway to Space complex at the spaceport, he and crewmates doused one another with champagne.
Retired Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield pinned Virgin-produced astronaut wings onto the blue flight suits worn by Branson and his team. Official wing pins from the Federal Aviation Administration will be presented later, a company spokesman said.
HIGH-COST TICKETS
Virgin has said it plans at least two further test flights of the spaceplane in the months ahead before beginning regular commercial operation in 2022.
Several hundred wealthy would-be citizen astronauts have already booked reservations, priced at around $250,000 per ticket for the chance to experience weightlessness and the force of supersonic flight and to witness spectacular views of Earth from space.
The Swiss-based investment bank UBS has estimated the potential value of the space tourism market reaching $3 billion annually by 2030.
Proving rocket travel safe for the public is key.
An earlier prototype of the Virgin Galactic rocket plane crashed during a test flight over California's Mojave Desert in 2014, killing one pilot and seriously injuring another.
Branson's participation in Sunday's flight, announced just over a week ago, typified his persona as the daredevil executive whose Virgin brands - from airlines to music companies - have long been associated with ocean-crossing exploits in sailboats and hot-air balloons.
SPACE RACE
His ride-along also upstaged rival astro-tourism venture Blue Origin and its founder, Bezos, in what has been popularized as the "billionaire space race."
Bezos has been planning to fly aboard his own suborbital rocketship, the New Shepard, later this month.
Branson has insisted he and Bezos are friendly rivals and not engaged in a personal contest to beat one another into space.
Blue Origin, however, has disparaged Virgin Galactic as falling short of a true spaceflight experience, saying that unlike Unity, Bezos's New Shepard tops the 62-mile-high-mark (100 km), called the Kármán line, set by an international aeronautics body as defining the boundary between Earth's atmosphere and space.
"New Shepard was designed to fly above the Kármán line so none of our astronauts have an asterisk next to their name," Blue Origin said in a series of Twitter posts on Friday.
However, U.S. space agency NASA and the U.S. Air Force both define an astronaut as anyone who has flown higher than 50 miles (80 km).
A third player in the space race, Musk's SpaceX, plans to send its first all-civilian crew (without Musk) into orbit in September, after having already launched numerous cargo payloads and astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA.
The spaceplane's two pilots were Dave Mackay and Michael Masucci. The three other mission specialists were Beth Moses, the company's chief astronaut instructor; Virgin Galactic's lead operations engineer Colin Bennett; and Sirisha Bandla, a research operations and government affairs vice president.
Reuters
Sun Jul 11 2021
![Billionaire Branson soars to space aboard Virgin Galactic flight Billionaire Branson soars to space aboard Virgin Galactic flight](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-07/51626040271_RichardBranson.jpg)
Billionaire Richard Branson floats in zero gravity on board Virgin Galactic's passenger rocket plane VSS Unity after reaching the edge of space. - Virgin Galactic/Handout via REUTERS
![Malaysia raih lebih RM230 juta dalam perjanjian perdagangan minyak sawit dengan China Malaysia raih lebih RM230 juta dalam perjanjian perdagangan minyak sawit dengan China](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-04/81680602791_TBsawit.jpg)
Malaysia raih lebih RM230 juta dalam perjanjian perdagangan minyak sawit dengan China
Malaysia berjaya meraih lebih RM230 juta dalam perjanjian perdagangan minyak sawit semasa lawatan kerja Timbalan Menteri Perladangan dan Komoditi Datuk Chan Foong Hin ke China baru-baru ini.
![Lesen cetak al-Quran batal jika langgar APTQ Lesen cetak al-Quran batal jika langgar APTQ](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721037284_WargaEmas.jpg)
Lesen cetak al-Quran batal jika langgar APTQ
LPPPQ memutuskan pemegang Lesen Mesin Cetak al-Quran (LMCQ) akan dikenakan tindakan pembatalan lesen mesin cetak al-Quran sekiranya melanggar mana-mana syarat lesen.
![Angkatan Tentera Indonesia, Malaysia lakukan rondaan sempadan bersama Angkatan Tentera Indonesia, Malaysia lakukan rondaan sempadan bersama](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721048079_tbTenteraMalaysia.jpg)
Angkatan Tentera Indonesia, Malaysia lakukan rondaan sempadan bersama
TNI dan Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) sedang menjalankan rondaan bersama yang diselaraskan untuk memeriksa penanda sempadan di sepanjang sempadan Kalimantan Barat-Sarawak.
![Malaysia dalam kedudukan terbaik sebagai hab serantau CCUS - MIDF Amanah Malaysia dalam kedudukan terbaik sebagai hab serantau CCUS - MIDF Amanah](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-07/81658464666_MIDF.jpg)
Malaysia dalam kedudukan terbaik sebagai hab serantau CCUS - MIDF Amanah
Malaysia berada pada kedudukan terbaik sebagai hab serantau CCUS, menyumbang kepada amalan mampan dalam sektor minyak dan gas seperti yang ditekankan dalam NETR.
![Mahkamah AS tolak pertuduhan tambahan dalam kes dokumen sulit Trump Mahkamah AS tolak pertuduhan tambahan dalam kes dokumen sulit Trump](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721080824_chargingdocument.jpg)
Mahkamah AS tolak pertuduhan tambahan dalam kes dokumen sulit Trump
Permohonan Trump untuk menolak pertuduhan berdasarkan pelantikan dan pembiayaan tidak sah 'Special Counsel' Jack Smith diluluskan.
![Istiadat Barisan Kehormatan mulai sambutan ulang tahun keputeraan Sultan Brunei Istiadat Barisan Kehormatan mulai sambutan ulang tahun keputeraan Sultan Brunei](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721079540_KEBAWAHDYMM.jpg)
Istiadat Barisan Kehormatan mulai sambutan ulang tahun keputeraan Sultan Brunei
Istiadat berlangsung di Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar 'Ali Saifuddien, sebuah taman terkenal di Bandar Seri Begawan.
![Zelensky ingin lihat Rusia hadir ke persidangan keamanan Ukraine seterusnya Zelensky ingin lihat Rusia hadir ke persidangan keamanan Ukraine seterusnya](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721080146_VolodymyrZelenskiy.jpg)
Zelensky ingin lihat Rusia hadir ke persidangan keamanan Ukraine seterusnya
Zelensky berkata beliau telah menugaskan Kerajaan Ukraine untuk menganjurkan acara itu menjelang November tahun ini.
![Kerajaan Pakistan akan haramkan parti bekas PM Imran Khan yang dipenjara Kerajaan Pakistan akan haramkan parti bekas PM Imran Khan yang dipenjara](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721080159_ImranKhan.jpg)
Kerajaan Pakistan akan haramkan parti bekas PM Imran Khan yang dipenjara
Menteri Penerangan Attaullah Tarar berkata kerajaan akan memfailkan permohonan di Mahkamah Agung selepas mendapat kelulusan Kabinet.
![Tawaran pengambilalihan MAHB dijangka muktamad suku ketiga tahun ini - Kementerian Kewangan Tawaran pengambilalihan MAHB dijangka muktamad suku ketiga tahun ini - Kementerian Kewangan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721077402_Perbendaharaan.jpg)
Tawaran pengambilalihan MAHB dijangka muktamad suku ketiga tahun ini - Kementerian Kewangan
Memandangkan tawaran itu merupakan satu urusan transaksi komersial, maka ia tidak mendatangkan sebarang implikasi kewangan kepada kerajaan.
![PREPMA jelas tiga kriteria utama pemilihan perenang ke Paralimpik Paris PREPMA jelas tiga kriteria utama pemilihan perenang ke Paralimpik Paris](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721077062_MegatD.jpg)
PREPMA jelas tiga kriteria utama pemilihan perenang ke Paralimpik Paris
Megat Shahriman berkata, walaupun tiga atlet berjaya melepasi masa kelayakan minimum, Malaysia hanya memperoleh dua slot automatik.
![Richard Branson tolak berdebat dengan menteri Singapura isu hukuman mati Richard Branson tolak berdebat dengan menteri Singapura isu hukuman mati](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-10/71667207072_RichardBranson.jpg)
Richard Branson tolak berdebat dengan menteri Singapura isu hukuman mati
Jutawan British Sir Richard Branson menolak pelawaan Singapura untuk menyertai debat televisyen secara langsung dengan Menteri Undang-undang dan Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri K. Shanmugam.
![Singapura pelawa Richard Branson berdebat isu dadah, hukuman mati Singapura pelawa Richard Branson berdebat isu dadah, hukuman mati](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-08/71628307068_BRANSON.jpg)
Singapura pelawa Richard Branson berdebat isu dadah, hukuman mati
Singapura mengundang Sir Richard Branson untuk berdebat secara langsung menerusi televisyen mengenai pendekatan republik ini berhubung isu dadah dan hukuman mati.
![Hukuman gantung: Richard Branson, Stephen Fry mohon Singapura beri Nagaenthran pengampunan Hukuman gantung: Richard Branson, Stephen Fry mohon Singapura beri Nagaenthran pengampunan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-04/51650707395_Richardbransondan.jpg)
Hukuman gantung: Richard Branson, Stephen Fry mohon Singapura beri Nagaenthran pengampunan
Mereka menggesa presiden Singapura, Halimah Yacob dan Perdana Menteri, Lee Hsien Loong untuk memberikan Nagaenthran, 34, pengampunan.
![Individu paling kaya di dunia, Jeff Bezos lengkapkan misi angkasa lepas Individu paling kaya di dunia, Jeff Bezos lengkapkan misi angkasa lepas](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-07/81626788181_BlueOriginNewShep.jpg)
Individu paling kaya di dunia, Jeff Bezos lengkapkan misi angkasa lepas
Individu paling kaya di dunia, Jeff Bezos berlepas ke angkasa menggunakan kapsul pesawat New Shepard dari pangkalan angkasa lepas di Texas, pada Selasa.
![Richard Branson lengkapkan misi angkasa lepas Richard Branson lengkapkan misi angkasa lepas](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-07/81626018771_RichardBranson.jpg)
Richard Branson lengkapkan misi angkasa lepas
Hartawan Richard Branson melengkapkan misi angkasa lepas, apabila pesawat angkasa Virgin Galactic berjaya mendarat di Spaceport, New Mexico.
![Richard Branson berlepas ke angkasa Richard Branson berlepas ke angkasa](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-07/51626016232_RichardBranson.jpg)
Richard Branson berlepas ke angkasa
Branson berlepas dari Spaceport America di New Mexico pada pukul 10.44 malam waktu Malaysia dan pelepasan itu disiarkan secara penstriman langsung di AstroAWANI.com.
![Richard Branson bersedia untuk ke angkasa lepas Richard Branson bersedia untuk ke angkasa lepas](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-07/61625956703_TBVIRGINGALACTIC.jpg)
Richard Branson bersedia untuk ke angkasa lepas
Virgin Galactic menjadi syarikat roket pertama yang menerbangkan pengasas syarikatnya ke angkasa lepas.
![Virus korona jejas pendapatan, dana kerajaan ditagih hartawan Virus korona jejas pendapatan, dana kerajaan ditagih hartawan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2020-04/61587681024_StellaMcCartneyVi.jpg)
Virus korona jejas pendapatan, dana kerajaan ditagih hartawan
Akibat tidak sanggup menanggung beban pembayaran gaji dari poket sendiri, mereka dikecam tangkai jering.
![Kemalangan basikal, Richard Branson sangka sudah mati Kemalangan basikal, Richard Branson sangka sudah mati](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-08/81472272461_RichardBranson.jpg)
Kemalangan basikal, Richard Branson sangka sudah mati
Branson terpelanting dari basikal dan cedera di bahagian pipi serta ligamennya terkoyak.
![Virgin Group beri cuti bergaji setahun kepada pekerja baru bergelar bapa Virgin Group beri cuti bergaji setahun kepada pekerja baru bergelar bapa](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2015-06/71433922165_295x200.jpg)
Virgin Group beri cuti bergaji setahun kepada pekerja baru bergelar bapa
Polisi baru syarikat itu memberi cuti bergaji sehingga setahun kepada pekerja lelaki yang baru menimang cahaya mata.