Virgin Galactic’s mission set to launch billionaire Richard Branson to space has been delayed by 90 minutes as the spaceplane could not be made it in time due to a thunderstorm. The launch, scheduled for 16.30 CET (14:30 GMT), is streamed live on internet.
SpaceShipTwo-class VSS Unity
It is the company’s first fully manned space trip after 22 test flights (three of which were crewed). Branson will join two pilots and three other crew members.
VSS Unity – SpaceShipTwo-type spaceplane – will be lifted by a carrier mother ship “White Knight Two” (VMS Eve) to a altitude of 15 kilometers, roughly one and a half times the height of an intercontinental commercial flight. Then it shoots up to an altitude of 80 kilometers, in the proximity of the edge of space.
The crew will see th...