Virgin Galactic Flies Its First Tourists to Space — Including a Mother-daughter Duo and Former Olympian
"As the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport on the edge of the Chihuahuan Desert, the facility’s hangar and shiny glass façade reflect the surrounding golden sand and jagged cliffs of New Mexico. It serves as the operational hub for Virgin Galactic’s suborbital flights — most notably the 'Galactic 02' mission in which VSS Unity carried three private passengers (including 18-year-old Anastasia Mayers, the youngest person to reach space; Keisha Schahaff, who flew with her daughter after winning seats through a Space for Humanity raffle; and 80-year-old former Olympian Jon Goodwin) and three crew to roughly 300,000 feet at about Mach 3 for a roughly 90-minute flight. Visitors undergo several months of astronaut training in a bespoke facility with a futuristic, Tron-like entrance, luxurious accommodations and a full-size replica of the spacecraft before experiencing an air launch from 44,000 feet, rocket-powered ascent, minutes of weightlessness and panoramic views through 17 cabin windows, then atmospheric reentry and a glide back to the runway. The site also hosts research missions (including a recent commercial flight with the Italian Air Force), public viewing events that attract international delegations and national celebrations, and acts as the base for the company’s goals to expand access to space with regular flights and next-generation vehicles planned for 2026." - Chris Dong Chris Dong Chris Dong is a travel reporter, editor, and strategist. He covers everything from the latest luxury hotels to the nuances of credit card rewards programs. Previously, Chris was a reporter and newsletter editor at The Points Guy. His work also appears in Lonely Planet, AFAR, The Washington Post, and Business Insider, among others. Chris lives in Los Angeles after spending nearly a decade in New York City. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
