Virgin Galactic debuts with its first civilian spaceflight

Virgin Galactic, founded by Sir Richard Branson, is on a quest to establish the world's first genuine space tourism business. The company, despite facing numerous challenges including a crash and fluctuating stock prices, is now making positive strides, having recently completed a significant flight.

Setting the Scene:

The article starts with a vivid description of Spaceport America in New Mexico, highlighting Virgin Galactic's significant presence there.

The author has traveled to this remote location seeking insights about Virgin Galactic's current activities and future plans.

Virgin Galactic's Journey:

Founded by Sir Richard Branson 19 years ago, Virgin Galactic aspires to be the premier space tourism company.

The company's stock once rose to $56 a share but has since dropped to just over $3.

A tragic incident occurred when one of its spaceships crashed nearly a decade ago, resulting in the death of a test pilot.

Despite past setbacks, the company appears to be progressing positively.

Recent Milestone:

On a recent Thursday morning, Virgin Galactic accomplished its seventh flight, reaching an altitude of 88 km above most of Earth's atmosphere.

While earlier missions primarily tested the capabilities of the VSS Unity spacecraft, this particular flight, named Galactic 02, was significant.

For the first time, the company successfully flew a private astronaut into space, underscoring its primary mission and reason for existence.

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