![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PSBXKZRXICAZ4GESFQS7FNTEZM.jpg?smart=true&auth=702d8c3621ee5fe94e8c426d93c02d54d21b057c16584aaa27ea69f7c84bbae7&width=400&height=225)
Richard Branson watches the takeoff of Virgin Galactic’s carrier airplane carrying a space tourism rocket plane toward space from Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave. Reuters
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Virgin Galactic's SpaceshipTwo takes off for a suborbital test flight on Thursday. AFP
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A jet carrying Virgin Galactic's tourism spaceship took off from Mojave Air and Space Port, climbing to an altitude near 43,000 feet. AP
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Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity comes in for a landing after its suborbital test flight. AFP
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Virgin Galactic marked a major milestone on Thursday as Unity made it to a peak height, or apogee, of 51.4 miles. AFP
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Virgin Galactic's SpaceshipTwo took off attached to an aeroplane from Mojave, California, then firing its rocket motors to reach new heights. AFP
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People watch on as the craft takes off. AFP
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The craft landed on a runway minutes after taking off. AP
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Richard Branson celebrates with pilots Rick “CJ” Sturckow, left, and Mark “Forger” Stucky, right, after Virgin Galactic’s tourism spaceship climbed more than 50 miles high. AP
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Virgin Galactic reaches space for the first time during its 4th powered flight from Mojave, Calif. AP
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VSS Unity reached an altitude of 271,268 feet reaching the lower altitudes of space. AP
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Virgin Galactic's manned space tourism rocket plane SpaceShipTwo lands at Mojave Air and Space Port. Reuters
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Virgin Galactic's carrier airplane WhiteKnightTwo carrying a space tourism rocket plane SpaceShipTwo takes off from Mojave Air and Space Port. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PSBXKZRXICAZ4GESFQS7FNTEZM.jpg?smart=true&auth=702d8c3621ee5fe94e8c426d93c02d54d21b057c16584aaa27ea69f7c84bbae7&width=400&height=225)
Richard Branson watches the takeoff of Virgin Galactic’s carrier airplane carrying a space tourism rocket plane toward space from Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TZZL4WMMN5CAALRBSMD3FDHOXY.jpg?smart=true&auth=95da7b801dc5d58653a76b47333edec0789683c942599725a1b2a07d2e6fc08a&width=400&height=225)
Virgin Galactic's SpaceshipTwo takes off for a suborbital test flight on Thursday. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RJF5CP3Y2GHMZPSIDEBKMM6J5M.jpg?smart=true&auth=00c7d0afb8993ce0abd193fcec946d5138aa41d225013a4d441e32d95b73c8cc&width=400&height=225)
A jet carrying Virgin Galactic's tourism spaceship took off from Mojave Air and Space Port, climbing to an altitude near 43,000 feet. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/D2DSR66EWTYXBGTUMVXXNTGESM.jpg?smart=true&auth=a0023ff04bc0a1e67ac889c034eb0b1ca0b3258d6eaf8fe9e628627cf21e4e99&width=400&height=225)
Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity comes in for a landing after its suborbital test flight. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P3BNFYYI4NCPL2MW2YHTFAEV6M.jpg?smart=true&auth=711cbf202fdfcca10739e06809b86d585047d89a8ad3ef5df82e0300ed792fad&width=400&height=225)
Virgin Galactic marked a major milestone on Thursday as Unity made it to a peak height, or apogee, of 51.4 miles. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F4XVDPN42XJKFMCGN2TIR3QCTU.jpg?smart=true&auth=9568dff8e64bd555c4a47612a8eacad39eca8206e6d962e65281405f6c179f79&width=400&height=225)
Virgin Galactic's SpaceshipTwo took off attached to an aeroplane from Mojave, California, then firing its rocket motors to reach new heights. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/Y47PZ4NMAHGJ5K2Q6CVLK2SRXI.jpg?smart=true&auth=8fa106b9486c0e42aee4fcc64169a5a833674cbc94a36e06bf608cfbf77360b5&width=400&height=225)
People watch on as the craft takes off. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/S7S5XOJU6BL5IF3EPTT5LDR6AM.jpg?smart=true&auth=64ad6c4039c4d133e4914b7a0a7aa70086ec1062f9d5e84222d977c5dd13b5f5&width=400&height=225)
The craft landed on a runway minutes after taking off. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W2NS3GAXSURWFMYVNKKB4VR2Y4.jpg?smart=true&auth=5e5bec82e73b8791a61bc07e1641efa9a278ceb3f921cf7e9cc2e008534b3e7c&width=400&height=225)
Richard Branson celebrates with pilots Rick “CJ” Sturckow, left, and Mark “Forger” Stucky, right, after Virgin Galactic’s tourism spaceship climbed more than 50 miles high. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IGOMHI6YZYFI5GVPTAFVTTRHSY.jpg?smart=true&auth=0956a9ec07eb3a0d132dca79d14b9ae439e43d1164493fb9b8d74abb5a27794d&width=400&height=225)
Virgin Galactic reaches space for the first time during its 4th powered flight from Mojave, Calif. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KLK3X55IMKJ4U25HDNKU6DP23E.jpg?smart=true&auth=03761647b14ae55b741434a637158ce66f8d52ae1a881e98d0e53c52762fbe11&width=400&height=225)
VSS Unity reached an altitude of 271,268 feet reaching the lower altitudes of space. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SQ2NQNWF3K24RA3TQ5YYHEYZH4.jpg?smart=true&auth=59235a9608f0f46bbc792d597fac17f8cdf6071f85cf4dee6901a35b7073cd17&width=400&height=225)
Virgin Galactic's manned space tourism rocket plane SpaceShipTwo lands at Mojave Air and Space Port. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FG3E73SXDKYNRQKYHJD4JEI3T4.jpg?smart=true&auth=fd2b4fb5dd285d475cfceca02b131814c612caa13f3f2fd619d837092b9c8ece&width=400&height=225)
Virgin Galactic's carrier airplane WhiteKnightTwo carrying a space tourism rocket plane SpaceShipTwo takes off from Mojave Air and Space Port. Reuters
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PSBXKZRXICAZ4GESFQS7FNTEZM.jpg?smart=true&auth=702d8c3621ee5fe94e8c426d93c02d54d21b057c16584aaa27ea69f7c84bbae7&width=400&height=225)
Richard Branson watches the takeoff of Virgin Galactic’s carrier airplane carrying a space tourism rocket plane toward space from Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave. Reuters
'Space is Virgin territory': Richard Branson lauds Virgin Galactic's successful test flight
Company tales the lead in the race to put tourists in space
Rob Crilly
14 December, 2018
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