Space-edge tourism shuttle passes test

SANTA FE, N.M. — Virgin Galactic on Saturday made its first rocket-powered flight from New Mexico to the fringe of space in a manned shuttle, as the company forges toward offering tourist flights to the edge of the Earth’s atmosphere.

High above the desert in a cloudless sky, VSS Unity ignited its rocket to hurtle the ship and two pilots toward space. A live feed by NASASpaceFlight.com showed the ship accelerating upward and confirmed a landing later via radar.

Virgin Galactic announced that its VSS Unity shuttle achieved a speed equal to three times the speed of sound and an altitude of just over 55 miles above sea level before making its gliding return through the atmosphere.

British billionaire and Virgin Galactic founder Sir Richard Branson says the flight and landing bring the roughly 15-yearold venture close to commercial flights for tourists. Virgin Galactic says those flights could begin next year.

“Today was just an incredible step in the right direction,” Branson told The Associated Press shortly after the flight landings. “It tested a lot of new systems that the teams have been building, and they all worked.”

Virgin Galactic CEO Michael Colglazier said at least two more undated test flights lie ahead — the next with four mission specialist passengers in the cabin. Pending trials also includes a flight that will take Branson to the edge of space.

(AP/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/Alexandra Wimley) Atasia Little, 17, a Taylor Allderdice High School graduate who will be attending Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, and her mother, Tanisha Austin, talk in their car Saturday before the “Promise Senior Signing Day” drive-in event held by The Pittsburgh Promise. The Pittsburgh Promise provides scholarships of up to $5,000 a year.