Virgin Galactic successfully flew four space tourists to the edge of space and back aboard its spaceplane, the VSS Unity.

This flight, dubbed Galactic 07, marked the second mission of the year for the Richard Branson-founded company and the final commercial flight for the VSS Unity spaceplane.

The Galactic 07 mission carried passengers from Turkey, the United States, and Italy to an altitude of approximately 88.51 km, providing them with an exhilarating experience of weightlessness and breathtaking views of Earth from the edge of space.

The flight lasted slightly more than an hour, taking off from and returning to Spaceport America in New Mexico.

Amongst the passengers was Tuva Atasever, a researcher-astronaut from the Turkish Space Agency, who expressed his awe at the indescribable beauty of Earth from space.

Joining him were Anand "Andy" Harish Sadhwani of California, Irving Izchak Pergament off New York and Giorgi Manenti of Italy.

This flight marked a significant milestone for Virgin Galactic, as it was the seventh commercial spaceflight for the VSS Unity spaceplane and the 12th crewed spaceflight overall. The company has now launched a total of 55 passengers and crew on 11 sub-orbital space flights since its initial test flight in December 2018.

With the retirement of the VSS Unity, Virgin Galactic is now focusing its efforts on producing its fourth-generation spaceships, expected to enter commercial service in 2026.

The new Delta class of spacecraft will boast an impressive capacity, capable of flying at least twice a week, approximately eight times the rate of the VSS Unity.

Source: India Today