Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity SpaceShipTwo spacecraft successfully made its first rocket-powered spaceflight in two years after lifting off from New Mexico's Spaceport America. The spaceflight brings Virgin Galactic closer to offering tourist flights to the edge of the Earth's atmosphere. Virgin Galactic announced the firing of VSS Unity's rocket motor to hurtle the ship and two pilots toward space. Thanks to our pilots Kelly Latimer and Michael Masucci for flying the mothership today and their vital role in helping VSS Unity complete today's spaceflight,' Virgin Galactic tweeted an hour after VSS Unity reached space. Virgin Galactic is aiming for commercial operations to begin next year following testing and several months of downtime for maintenance and other upgrades.

Source: Daily Mail May 22, 2021 18:43 UTC