posted 05-08-2023 09:00 AM               

Virgin Galactic Announces Crew for Return to Space in Late May

Mission Specialists will Validate the Astronaut Experience Ahead of First Commercial Flight, 'Galactic 01,' planned for Late June

"Returning to space is what we have all worked towards. Our mission specialists were selected for their diverse expertise, and they couldn't be better suited to validate the astronaut training program and overall experience. After this flight we will begin flying our customers to space," said Mike Moses, President of Spaceline Missions and Safety.

Mission Objective

Unity 25 is the final assessment of the full spaceflight system and astronaut experience before commercial service opens in late June.

Meet The Crew

Jamila Gilbert, Mission Specialist

• Hailing from New Mexico, Jamila will be flying to space from Spaceport America, just one hour from her hometown.

• Artistic, multilingual graduate of New Mexico State University, who studied linguistics, anthropology and studio art.

• As a Latina woman with Purépechan-Mexican roots, Jamila will join the first 100 women to reach space.

• Joined Virgin Galactic in 2019.

Christopher Huie, Mission Specialist

• Joined Virgin Galactic in 2016 as a Flight Sciences Engineer.

• Co-founder of Virgin Galactic's Black Leaders in Aerospace Scholarship and Training (BLAST) Program.

• Son of Jamaican immigrants, hailing from Florida, Chris will become the 19th Black astronaut in the world.

• Holds a bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, University of Maryland.

Luke Mays, Astronaut Instructor

• Newest member of the Virgin Galactic crew, arriving from NASA this year, bringing dynamic expertise to the training program and spaceflight experience.

• 25 years in aerospace, with several years at NASA training astronauts and creating scalable training programs.

• Skilled in working with international candidates, a promising fit for Galactic's worldwide customer base.

• Holds a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas and masters degree in Aerospace Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder.

Beth Moses, Chief Astronaut Instructor

• First woman to fly to space aboard a commercial space vehicle, earning her FAA commercial astronaut wings.

• Unity 25 marks her third flight to space with Virgin Galactic.

• With ten years at Virgin Galactic, Beth has developed the astronaut training program, and masterfully communicates the transformative experience of witnessing Earth from space.

• Holds bachelor's and master's degrees in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Purdue University.

Meet the Pilots

VSS Unity
• Mike Masucci, commander
  
• CJ Sturckow, pilot

  VMS Eve

• Jameel Janjua, commander
  
• Nicola Pecile, pilot

posted 05-25-2023 12:48 PM               

Virgin Galactic Completes Successful Spaceflight

Mission Specialists Jamila Gilbert, Christopher Huie, and Luke Mays Become Newest Virgin Galactic Astronauts

Company Now Readies for Commercial Spaceline Operations Beginning with the 'Galactic 01' Mission Planned for Late June

"The 'Unity 25' mission was a fantastic achievement for everyone at Virgin Galactic," said Michael Colglazier, CEO of Virgin Galactic. "Witnessing our inspiring crew's pure joy upon landing, I have complete confidence in the unique astronaut experience we have built for our customers. Our teams now begin post-flight analysis as well as preparation for 'Galactic 01', our commercial research mission, planned for late June."

In Flight Facts: Unity's 25th Mission

• Take-off Time: 9:15am MT
  
• Altitude at Release: 44,500 feet
  
• Apogee: 54.2 miles
  
• Top Speed: Mach 2.94
  
• Landing Time: 10:37am MT

"New Mexico, you are even more enchanting from space," said Jamila Gilbert, Mission Specialist, Virgin Galactic. "I flew to space just one hour from the street I grew up on. It is hard to put into words what this experience was like, but I'm sure I'll spend the rest of my life trying."

"I'm not only honored to be one of the first 100 women and one of 16 Hispanic and Latinx people to go to space, I'm also incredibly proud to represent the community from where this new space age is blossoming. As one of the very few non-technical people to fly to space, my role in this mission marks a sea change in who can go to space, and is a promising sign of the opportunities Virgin Galactic and the commercial space sector are ushering in," said Gilbert.

"Looking down at our beautiful planet from space, something that so few humans have experienced, was such a humbling, awe-inspiring, and reverent experience," said Christopher Huie, Senior Manager, Flight Science at Virgin Galactic. "As one of the first 20 Black people who have gone to space, I hope that I can inspire the next generation of astronauts who look like me to set their goals high and break down the mental and institutional barriers that have held people of color back."

"This is just the beginning, and I look forward to continuing to push boundaries with Virgin Galactic and shine a spotlight on the doors that commercial space travel can open for innovation," said Huie.

Next Steps

Post-flight inspections and analysis in preparation for commercial spaceline operations, beginning with 'Galactic 01', a dedicated research mission planned for late June.