Virgin Galactic’s upcoming mission, Galactic 05, is scheduled for takeoff on November 2nd at approximately 9 a.m. MDT. The mission will be significant as it carries three passengers, two of whom have already made their mark in the space sector.
Alan Stern, a planetary scientist and vice president of the Space Science Division at the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in Boulder, Colorado, is one of the passengers. Stern is renowned for his role as the principal investigator of the New Horizons mission to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt. His contributions have been instrumental in capturing iconic images of Pluto, including the famous heart-shaped feature on the dwarf planet.
Joining Stern on this journey is Kellie Gerardi, who has an extensive background in aeronautics research. Gerardi serves as a missions operations lead at Palantir Technologies and a payload specialist at the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS). In addition to her professional achievements, Gerardi is a STEM influencer with a substantial online following, having authored three books about space.
Both Stern and Gerardi’s participation in the mission is backed by their respective organizations, emphasizing research. During the flight, they will conduct a series of experiments during the brief period of weightlessness.
The third passenger, of Franco-Italian nationality, has chosen to remain anonymous. Joining the trio inside the VSS Unity’s cabin will be Virgin Galactic astronaut instructor, Colin Bennett. The cockpit will be manned by mission commander Mike Masucci and pilot Kelly Latimer.
The flight procedure involves the VSS Unity being carried by its carrier aircraft, VMS Eve, to an altitude of around 50,000 feet. Following its release, the spaceplane will ignite its rocket motor to ascend to space. After a brief experience of weightlessness, the VSS Unity and its crew will return to Spaceport America, with VMS Eve following shortly after.
Virgin Galactic has opted not to livestream its missions since Galactic 02. Instead, mission updates will be posted through the company’s official account. The entire Galactic 05 mission is expected to last approximately 1.5 hours.