Virgin Galactic Completes Historic Third Successful Spaceflight with Rocket-powered Plane

'60 seconds of rocket burn, straight into space,' Virgin Galactic tweeted today, sharing a video of their historic launch.

CNN reports:
Virgin Galactic's rocket-powered plane, carrying two pilots, soared into the upper atmosphere on its third mission to reach space Saturday morning. The success cues up Virgin Galactic to begin launching paying customers within the next year as the company works to finish its testing campaign at its new headquarters in New Mexico.

Spaceplane VSS Unity reached an altitude of 55.45 miles, according to the company. The U.S. government recognizes the 50-mile mark as the edge of space. The company tweeted Saturday morning that the spaceflight carried technology experiments for NASA's Flight Opportunities Program...

Saturday's flight comes after Virgin Galactic's last spaceflight attempt ended abruptly when the rocket engine that powers the space plane, called VSS Unity, failed to ignite, setting the company's testing schedule back by months. Virgin Galactic, founded by British billionaire Richard Branson in 2004, has spent years pledging to take groups of customers on brief, scenic flights to suborbital space. But the company has faced a series of complications and delays, including a 2014 test flight crash that left one pilot dead.

Nonetheless, Virgin Galactic has already sold tickets for $200,000 to $250,000 to more than 600 people.

The company said it also collected data 'to be used for the final two verification reports that are required as part of the current FAA commercial reusable spacecraft operator's license.' Virgin Galactic's CEO called it 'a major step forward for both Virgin Galactic and human spaceflight in New Mexico. Space travel is a bold and adventurous endeavor, and I am incredibly proud of our talented team for making the dream of private space travel a reality.'

In fact, this was the first ever spaceflight from Spaceport America, New Mexico, making it the third U.S. state to launch humans into space. New Mexico Governor Lujan Grisham said proudly in the company's statement that 'After so many years and so much hard work, New Mexico has finally reached the stars.' To commemorate the moment, the flight carried New Mexico's traditional green chile seeds, and featured the Zia Sun Symbol from the state flag on the outside of the spaceship. 'The crew experienced extraordinary views of the bright, blue-rimmed curvature of the earth against the blackness of space,' reads the statement from Virgin Galactic, adding that New Mexico's White Sands National Park 'sparkled brilliantly below.'

And pilot-in-command CJ Sturckow now becomes the first person ever to have flown to space from three different states.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.