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Las Cruces Sun reporter Damien Willis covers the area’s top business stories, including Virgin Galactic’s expected launch of paying customers. Here is a transcript of Damien’s report:
KC counts:
Well, Damien, on today’s Monday Business Hour, we’re going to focus on last week’s flight from Spaceport America to Las Cruces that carried Jamila Gilbert. You know, I’ve been trying to figure out for years now how to convince them that they need a media person on one of these flights really, really soon.
Damien Willis:
Yeah, I think everyone in our newsroom would jump at that opportunity. But as you said, Casey, Virgin Galactic Unity 25 took off Thursday morning with 6 people on board, including Jamila Gilbert from Las Cruces. VSS Unity took off from Spaceport America and Unity on Thursday at 9:15 AM and the 6 passengers landed back at Spaceport an hour and a half later at 10:37 AM. The Unity 25 flight was the first fully rocket-powered subsurface space flight. It’s been tongue in cheek since Richard Branson joined the Unity 22 mission on July 11, 2021. They call it ground-based training ahead of commercial service. After performing some flight reviews and inspections, these are the next steps. Commercial flights are expected to start by the end of June, he said. So I don’t even remember how long we talked about this.
KC counts:
I’ll tell you how long it was. Paris Hilton has been in the headlines ever since.
Damien Willis:
that’s true.
KC counts:
Because she bought a ticket, right. And we were talking.
Damien Willis:
that’s right. I think I saw someone on Twitter that this has been 17 years since it happened and it’s probably been a month now.
KC counts:
all right. Well, of course last week’s successful test has us headed in the right direction. So as long as the FAA isn’t jumping this time, people will be good to go. I wonder if anyone out there has any second thoughts?
Damien Willis:
There are more than 800 flight reservations at $450,000 per ticket, so unless we get an invite, it’s not me and you for now.
KC counts:
Hold out hope for the golden ticket. Okay, thank you very much. You can read more about this story at LC Sun Dash News Dot com and it’s been a great week Damien.
Damien Willis:
Thank you K.C.
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