Virgin Galactic’s Comeback: Three Years After the Crash
Just a few minutes after the VMS Eve handed off SpaceShipTwo VSS Unity at 46,500 feet, the rocket engine roared to life, blasting the ship toward Mach 1.87 in a 30‑second burst. The pilot crew quickly shut off the motor, and Unity glided to an 84,000‑foot altitude before landing back on the Mojave runway—smoothly, like a graceful belly flop. Almost a superhero landing, but with more rocket fuel.
Key Milestones in the Flight
- Takeoff from Mojave, California
- Releasing Unity at 14,000 m
- 30‑second powered burn to Mach 1.87
- Peaking at 25,000 m
- Naked‑air, runway touchdown with zero drama
Too Close for Comfort—and Still All Right!
Founder Richard Branson cheered from the sidelines like a proud parent who finally sees their kid make it past a tough hurdle. “Virgin Galactic back on track,” he tweeted, adding: “Data review to come, then on to the next flight. Space feels tantalizingly close now.” It’s a clear sign the company’s SpaceShipTwo is back in the big leagues after a heartbreaking turn‑of‑the‑millisecond mishap three years ago.
What’s Next?
We’re still waiting on an official launch date for commercial passenger flights. Meanwhile, the company is currently selling seats at $250,000 each—so if you’ve got a small fortune and a wild sense of adventure, you’re basically guaranteed a front‑row seat in the sky.
Final Thoughts
It’s a moment that’s both a triumph and a reminder of how close we are to turning space tourism into a mainstream ride‑share. Branson’s tweet gave us a fun, hopeful snapshot of a company pushing the limits, one epic dart of the rocket at a time. Here’s to more smooth landings and more smiles at the 250,000‑dollar price tag!
