3 private citizens launched to space and back on Virgin Galactic’s Unity spacecraft

Three private citizens blasted off into space aboard Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity spacecraft and landed safely, completing the company’s second spaceflight of 2024 and its 12th mission to date.

Virgin Galactic’s seventh commercial mission carried one researcher and three private astronauts, the company said. Said It launched on Saturday with pilots Nikola Pecil and Jameel Janjua, along with Giorgio Manenti from Italy, Irving Pargament from New York, Anand Sadhwani from California, and Tuva Atasever, the second Turkish astronaut to fly in space. Atasever’s flight was sponsored by Axiom Space to conduct microgravity research.

“It was a breathtaking and proud moment watching our pioneering spaceship Unity return from space on its final commercial flight. We celebrate the vehicle’s unprecedented achievement in human spaceflight and accelerate the introduction of our first Delta Class spaceship in 2026,” said Virgin Galactic CEO Michael Colglazer.

The flight took off from New Mexico at about 8:31 a.m. local time and landed a little over an hour later. A carrier jet dropped the spaceplane at an altitude of 44,500 feet, which the company said reached speeds nearly three times the speed of sound. Atasevar flew wearing headgear equipped with brain activity monitoring sensors and two insulin pens to test insulin delivery in microgravity.

“I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to represent my country on Galactic 07 and conduct groundbreaking research that will influence future space missions,” Atasever said. “The success of Ax-3 and now Galactic 07 is just the beginning of Turkey’s space efforts, and I hope that our people will continue to be inspired and dream beyond the stars.”

The company is currently focused on building its first Delta-class vessel, which is scheduled for commercial use in 2026. Virgin Galactic was founded in 2004 by Richard Branson.