Unity 25

Virgin Galactic’s mission on May 7, 2023, Unity 25, was its final crewed test flight before transitioning to commercial spaceflight. The mission is named Unity 25 as it marked the 25th flight of the company’s VSS Unity spacecraft. The mission holds significant importance both for final technical system checks and for testing astronaut training procedures. Additionally, it carries symbolic meaning in representing inclusion and diversity through the participation of individuals with different technical and cultural backgrounds.

The primary objectives of Unity 25 were as follows:

• Completion of pre-flight evaluations for VSS Unity and its carrier aircraft VMS Eve,
• Testing the astronaut training process in a flight environment,
• Inclusion of customer experience specialists to evaluate the passenger journey,
• Review of all operational procedures prior to commercial flights.

This mission was designed to confirm that both the system and training were ready for the company’s first commercial flight, Galactic 01.

^{Virgin Galactic’s carrier aircraft VMS Eve carries the VSS Unity spacecraft for a test flight. -} Virgin Galactic

• Launch Time: 09:15 (MT)
• Release Altitude: 44,500 feet (13,564 m)
• Apogee (Highest Point): 54.2 miles (87.2 km)
• Maximum Speed: Mach 2.94
• Landing Time: 10:37 (MT)

These data confirm that the flight was successfully completed and that the commercial system is operational for human spaceflight.

^{Unity 25 Crew -} Virgin Galactic

^{Jamila Gilbert – Astronaut 007, Mission Specialist -} Virgin Galactic

Jamila Gilbert joined Virgin Galactic in 2019. She studied linguistics, museum studies and art education at New Mexico State University. Of Purepecha-Mexican heritage, Gilbert speaks four languages and is an expert in visual arts and communication. She became one of the first 100 women to reach space on the Unity 25 mission and is among only a few astronauts of Latin descent. As an astronaut without an engineering or technical background, she has initiated a new era in space tourism by demonstrating its accessibility.

“New Mexico is even more breathtaking when viewed from space.” – Jamila Gilbert ^【1】 

^{Beth Moses – Astronaut 002, Chief Astronaut Instructor -} Virgin Galactic

Beth Moses serves as Chief Astronaut Instructor at Virgin Galactic. Unity 25 was her third spaceflight and she is the first woman to fly to space aboard a commercial spacecraft. She joined the company in 2013 and is recognized as the first Virgin Galactic employee to reach space.

^{Christopher Huie – Astronaut 006, Mission Specialist -} Virgin Galactic

Christopher Huie is Senior Flight Sciences Director at Virgin Galactic. Of Jamaican-American heritage, Huie is the 19th Black person to reach space. He is one of the founding partners of the company’s BLAST (Black Leaders in Aerospace Scholarship and Training) program. He joined Virgin Galactic in 2016.

“This is just the beginning. I want to pave the way for those who come after me.” – Christopher Huie^【2】 

^{Luke Mays – Astronaut 005, Astronaut Instructor -} Virgin Galactic

Luke Mays is one of Virgin Galactic’s newest astronauts. He has 25 years of aviation experience and previously served as an astronaut instructor at NASA. He completed a master’s degree in aerospace engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder. The Unity 25 mission marks a significant milestone in his spaceflight career.

^{Jamila Gilbert and Christopher Huie looking at Earth during the Unity 25 flight. -} Virgin Galactic

^{Mike Masucci – Commander, VSS Unity -} Virgin Galactic

^{CJ Sturckow – Pilot, VSS Unity -} Virgin Galactic

^{Jameel Janjua – Commander, VMS Eve -} Virgin Galactic

^{Nicola Pecile – Pilot, VMS Eve -} Virgin Galactic

The pilots ensured the technical safety of the flight by managing both the ascent into the atmosphere and the descent and landing phases.

Unity 25 was not merely a technical test flight but also a clear indicator that spaceflight is becoming more inclusive. The participation of individuals from diverse ethnic and professional backgrounds is seen as the beginning of a new era in private space transportation.

Following the mission, Virgin Galactic began preparations for its first commercial spaceflight, Galactic 01, which is dedicated to scientific research and is scheduled for June 2023.

^{Unity 25 Mission Video -} Virgin Galactic

^{Unity 25 Spaceflight Recap -} Virgin Galactic