Virgin Galactic completes first commercial spaceflight

Researchers with the Italian Air Force and the National Research Council reached the edge of space aboard Virgin Galactic’s first commercial spaceflight on Thursday, June 29, the company said. Six crew along with 13 research payloads traveled on the Galactic 01 spaceflight from Spaceport America in New Mexico for about an hour on Wednesday, reaching an apogee of 52.9 miles before returning safely to the earth, Virgin Galactic said. The company’s first manned flight with “private astronauts” is planned for August. Credit: Virgin Galactic via Storyful