In Photos: See Inside The Luxury Supersonic Space Plane That Will Take Richard Branson Into Space This Weekend

Sir Richard Branson aims to become an astronaut this weekend when he acts as Virgin Galactic’s “Astronaut 001” on its “Unity 22” mission.

Scheduled for 9:00 am EDT on Sunday, July 11, 2021 and due to be webcast live on VirginGalactic.com, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook, Unity 22 will be the 22nd test flight of the space tourism company’s Virgin Spaceship Unity (VSS Unity) supersonic jet-plane.

Here’s everything you need to know about the VSS Unity spaceplane:

How does Virgin Galactic’s space tourism flight work?

It’s an “air launch.”

After taking-off on a runway at Spaceport America near Truth or Consequences in New Mexico while strapped to the Virgin Mothership Eve (VMS Eve), VSS Unity detaches at 52,000 ft. and burns its engine for 63 seconds to reach space about 55 miles up.

It then re-enters Earth’s atmosphere and touches down back on the runway.

How much does it cost to fly on Virgin Galactic?

With 600 seats sold and a wait-list numbering in the thousands, Virgin Galactic is not currently selling tickets.

They cost around $250,000, but are expected to become more affordable when flights get underway.

It’s rumored that Justin Bieber And Leonardo DiCaprio are among the ticket-holders.

How many seats are there in Virgin Galactic’s supersonic plane?

The cabin is designed to take eight people, including two pilots—Dave Mackay and Michael Masucci—to the edge of space.

However, six will travel on this test flight.

What’s it like inside Virgin Galactic’s spacecraft?

Designed to recline to help passengers cope with the G- forces on boost and re-entry, the cabin also acts as an “astronaut float zone” when in zero gravity.

Seat back screens connect passengers to live flight data, automated mood lighting changes in each flight phase and there are 12 cabin windows to gaze at Earth from.

There are also 16 cameras to provide HD video and photos and a large mirror so that passengers can see themselves floating.

What are Virgin Galactic’s spacesuits like?

Under Armour has designed Virgin Galactic’s astronaut spacesuits, as well as the fabric used in the the cabin seats.

The spacesuit weights only 1kg, consisting of flight-grade knitted fabrics optimized for comfort in all stages of flight, such as “boost,” when the forces press the pilots backwards into their seats. The pilot spacesuits also include the Virgin Galactic pilot wings emblem.

How high does Virgin Galactic go?

About 55 miles/88 km, which is above what the Federal Aviation Administration—who just licensed Virgin Galactic to fly customers to space—define as the edge of space.

It will take VSS Unity about 63 seconds of rocket-burn to get there.

Does Virgin Galactic actually go to space?

There’s another measure of the edge of space called the Kármán Line—about 62 miles/100km up—that is the target for space tourism rival company Blue Origin’s flights.

Expect to hear a lot of chat about “exactly where is space?” and much “my-spacecraft-goes-higher-than-yours” bravado when Jeff Bezos takes his company’s rocket-propelled first crewed mission on July 20, 2021 … though Blue Origin’s experience lasts only 11 minutes.

How long does Virgin Galactic stay in space?

Weightlessness—and a chance to look back at Earth’s curvature set against the blackness of space—will last about six minutes.

The entire experience, however, lasts for about 2.5 hours, from take-off to landing.

When will Virgin Galactic begin flying space tourists?

The purpose of Unity 22 is to test the comfort, the weightless experience and the views of Earth that the spaceship delivers ahead of planned private missions in 2022. 

Before that, two more test flights are planned.

Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.

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