Virgin Galactic achieved its first-ever space tourism journey, taking its initial group of tourists to the edge of space. One of the passengers was Jon Goodwin, an 80-year-old British Olympian who competed in canoeing during the 1972 Munich Games.
The spacecraft used for the journey, named VSS Unity, carried passengers including Jon Goodwin, Keisha Schahaff (46 years old), and her 18-year-old daughter Anastatia Mayers, who is a student at the University of Aberdeen.
Despite battling Parkinson’s disease, Jon Goodwin found the view of Earth from space to be incredibly awe-inspiring due to its remarkable clarity. He commended Virgin Galactic for their inclusivity and credited them for not letting Parkinson’s disease limit his aspirations.
Jon Goodwin was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease after signing up for the space journey nine years ago. He praised Virgin Galactic for their unwavering support and thorough health checks that allowed him to fulfill his dream. Anastatia, accompanied by her mother, emphasized feeling a stronger connection to Earth after the experience.
These passengers earned their spots through a prize draw, adding to the unique nature of the journey.
Virgin Galactic, founded by Sir Richard Branson, propelled its VSS Unity spacecraft about 55 miles (88 km) above Earth, giving passengers a taste of weightlessness during the hour-long flight. Pilots CJ Sturckow and Kelly Latimer, along with astronaut instructor Beth Moses, accompanied the tourists on the journey, taking off from Spaceport America in New Mexico.
After separating from its carrier plane, VMS Eve, at around 44,500 feet, VSS Unity’s rocket ignited, sending it upward for about a minute.
This successful voyage marked Virgin Galactic’s entry into the growing space tourism industry. The company’s launch during the summer served as its first commercial trip, focusing on scientific research experiments in low orbit. Virgin Galactic plans to offer monthly space trips to customers, competing in the space tourism market alongside Blue Origin by Jeff Bezos and SpaceX by Elon Musk.
