NEW YORK – Richard Branson took off into space aboard his SpaceShipTwo, renamed Unity 22. It is the first commercial flight in space that will take between 80 and 100 km from Earth, two pilots, two engineers and the British tycoon founder of the Virgin empire.
After being postponed for 90 minutes due to adverse weather conditions, the flight took off at 16.30 Italian time from New Mexico. Branson, who will turn 71 in a week, had scheduled the flight for the end of the summer, but brought it up early to overtake the rival operation: Blue Origin and its founder, Jeff Bezos they will leave West Texas in their rocket on July 20.
The launch took place from the spaceport America: the comedian told the audience Stephen Colbert. On stage, Khalid’s music. Elon Musk, owner of SpaceX, also in the process of launching a space operation, joined Branson before departure: “We have a great day ahead. Great to start the morning with a friend,” Branson wrote on Twitter posting a photo with Musk before take off.
In space for four minutes. Thus Branson opens the era of astrotourism
by Anna Lombardi
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