On its Twitter handle, Virgin Galactic said that the live broadcast will begin at 6 am PT, 2 pm BST, and 9 am ET. Viewers in India can catch the launch at 6:30 pm IST. Virgin Galactic will broadcast the launch on its website as well as its YouTube channel. “The skies over Spaceport America are ready. Soon our Unity22 mission specialists will soar above New Mexico and see Earth from a whole new, spectacular point of view,” Virgin Galactic tweeted. 

Before the mission, Richard Branson has tweeted, “My mission statement is to turn the dream of space travel into a reality – for my grandchildren, for your grandchildren, for everyone. Watch the launch of the next space age at 6 am PT | 9 am ET | 2 pm BST on http://virgingalactic.com @virgingalactic #Unity22

The flight took off from the Spaceport America runway with VSS Unity attached to the carrier aircraft, VMS Eve. The VMS Eve carrier mother-ship flew by two pilots Michael Masucci and Kelly Latimer and there were two more people on that flight Dave Mackay and CJ Sturckow who together with the team executed some important tasks like take-off and landing of the flight.

According to a statement published by Virgin Galactic, the mother-ship carrier VMS Eve climbed to an altitude of 50,000ft before VSS Unity was detached from VMS Eve. The spaceship achieved a glide speed of Mach 0.70 (nearly 864Kmh) and completed multiple test-points, before touching back down smoothly for a runway landing at Spaceport America.

By the way, we are all going through pandemic time, but the test flight was conducted under a set of stringent operational protocols to ensure safety against COVID-19. Its successful execution was made possible by a concerted effort to redesign all the operational elements required for safe flight test while meeting new health and wellness protocols. These protocols include changes to the work areas and procedures to enforce social distancing as advised by state guidelines as well as universal mask usage.

It is a milestone to achieve this major achievement which has set the roots of future commercial flight service. This glide flight provided the first opportunity to test all the components required to fly the carrier aircraft and spaceship in glide configuration, from a new home base, and in new airspace.

Information source: https://www.virgingalactic.com/articles/virgin-galactics-spaceshiptwo-completes-first-flight-from-spaceport-america/

The milestone spaceship has achieved is the completion of the overall assembly of the vehicle. All the major structural elements have been assembled and the rocket plane is standing on its own landing gear at Mojave Air & Space Port in California, Virgin Galactic said in a statement. The next part of the work of completion of the ship includes connecting flight control and other integrated systems.

The news is announced by the representatives of both companies on Oct 8. Virgin Galactic founder said in a statement that  “This is the beginning of an important collaboration for the future of air and space travel, which are the natural next steps for our human spaceflight program. “Virgin Galactic and Boeing share a vision of opening access to the world and space, to more people in safe and environmentally responsible ways.”

Boeing investment facilitates the efforts of Virgin Galactic to take people to space. It will be a big leap to future travel. A cost for a ticket for the suborbital ride is currently at $250,000. Till now more than 600 people have prebooked a reserved seat, said by Virgin Galactic representatives.