LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – We are one step closer to commercializing space travel.
On Sunday, Sir Richard Branson and his Virgin Galactic team started a flight test into space and presented the private astronaut experience.
This is a novel space race where private companies are working to take tourists to the stars.
For a local, this brings him one step closer to fulfilling a lifelong dream.
Ken Baxter wanted to go into space since he was a child.
“I’ve been interested in missiles from the start,” said Baxter. “It will be very exciting to go down and go into space and look back at Earth. I can not wait any longer.”
In 2004, Baxter bought the first civilian ticket for $ 200,000.
In 2012, 8 News Now reached out to Baxter when Virgin Galactic was initially given an experimental launch permit.
“The excitement of going into space really is second to none,” said Baxter.
After the successful flight of Virgin Galactic on Sunday, that dream is now drawing closer.
“It’s going to be so exciting you won’t believe it,” said Baxter. “Can’t wait, let’s get it done and see all the other people come here to join the team.”
The “Unity 22” mission was the first with a full crew, including pilots, specialists and Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson.
“To all the children down there, I was once a child with a dream that looked up at the stars,” said Sir Richard Branson. “Now I’m an adult in a spaceship!”
The team was launched to an altitude of about 80 miles, where they experienced weightlessness and incredible views of Earth.
Two more test flights are planned before Virgin Galactic launches commercial services next year and ushers in the era of space tourism.
“To the next generation of dreamers, if we can do this, imagine what you can do,” said Branson.
This historic flight takes place just days before another private company flies into space. His billionaire Jeff Bezos will launch his spaceship “Blue Origins” on July 20th.
