Virgin Galactic, Blue Origin Close To Commercial Spaceflight Debuts

Irene Klotz Guy Norris May 28, 2021
Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo Unity
Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo Unity resumed flight tests from Spaceport America in New Mexico on May 22, successfully reaching suborbital space for a third time. Unity was imaged just after release from the WhiteKnightTwo Eve carrier jet.
Credit: Virgin Galactic
After more than a decade of development, two U.S. companies are on the cusp of launching commercial human suborbital flight services, opening the door for private individuals, researchers and government personnel to experience a few minutes of zero gravity, operate experiments and view the planet...
Irene Klotz

Irene Klotz is Senior Space Editor for Aviation Week, based in Cape Canaveral. Before joining Aviation Week in 2017, Irene spent 25 years as a wire service reporter covering human and robotic spaceflight, commercial space, astronomy, science and technology for Reuters and United Press International.

Guy Norris

Guy is a Senior Editor for Aviation Week, covering technology and propulsion. He is based in Colorado Springs.

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