Elite Traveler Summer 2022

Clockwise from left The view of Earth from space; an astronaut in training; taking o ff ; Virgin Galactic in space; Beth Moses, chief astronaut instructor

it’s all about the cabin. We’ll go through how to get in and out of your seat and plan what you want to do during weightlessness in space, and how you want to move around the cabin. We’ll also do required emergency drills — passenger safety is central to our training. The fi nal training day expands to the full operation, where we go through the details of launch day as well as a fi nal fl ight day rehearsal. We also host a master class with people who recently fl ew on a Virgin Galactic space fl ight to give our astronauts the opportunity to connect with them and hear about their experience. And then on day four, it’s launch day! What would you like people to take away from the experience? I’d love to see people coming back from space with a feeling of joy and love that stays with them for the rest of their lives. I hope that people walk away with a transformed and elevated relationship with our planet that they can then pass on and use to inspire others back on Earth. After my fi rst fl ight I realized you can’t really understand your home until you leave and come back. What are your future predictions for space travel? We are at an in fl ection point in history right now, where space travel is becoming more accessible than it ever has been. Humans are now in space for good, and we’re working together across the industry to build a future where space is no longer just a far-o ff dream but a tangible reality. The fascination with space is as strong as ever, driven by humanity’s inherent desire for new discoveries and innovation. Experience space for yourself: Sign up at virgingalactic.com

The human eye and human heart can take in so much more and, during that moment of stillness when time seems to stop at apogee, the Earth is also still below you — it seems to almost breathe below you — and you can drink it in. It’s a beautiful reminder that Earth is a living planet; it’s like seeing Mother Nature herself. What is the training like for the experience? Training begins three days before your space fl ight, when you’ll join your crew members — fellow customers, pilots and your cabin lead — at Spaceport America in NewMexico, the world’s fi rst purpose-built commercial spaceport. The fi rst day of training is all about you. You’ll be suited up in your spacesuit and personal equipment, and we’ll go through what you can expect: from the sights and sounds to how to make yourself comfortable during high G force. It’s all about making sure you feel ready from the start by ensuring you have an understanding of everything. On the second day, we take astronauts on an aerobatic fl ight above Spaceport America so you can feel high G and weightlessness in a small plane. Then,

After the rocket motor cuts o ff you’ll coast up to reach apogee. For me, this is the heart of our Virgin Galactic space fl ight. It’s the point at which you’re farthest from the Earth and the pilots have pointed the windows to Earth, and then coast to a complete stop. This moment feels timeless as you’re fl oating in weightlessness. Your whole body becomes still, your mind settles, and all your senses are engulfed by the indescribable views outside the windows. It’s pure magic. Could you describe the view from space? Magical. Almost indescribable. Earth is exceptionally bright and clear, and the black of space is this deep, dark black that feels endless. Set against the blackness of space you can see the curve of the Earth and its colors like never before, from the blue of the water to the mosaic of green, tan and white of the land. On my fi rst space fl ight there was snow on the mountains, which was so bright from space that it looked like the mountains were glistening. The whole experience is in a higher de fi nition than anything I’ve ever seen, and pictures don’t do it justice.