TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, N.M. Virgin Galactic achieved a significant milestone as its first group of private space tourists embarked on their journey to the edge of space. The passengers included a former British Olympian who secured his ticket almost two decades ago and a mother-daughter duo hailing from the Caribbean.

The spaceplane safely glided back to a runway landing at Spaceport America, nestled in the New Mexico desert, after a brief flight that granted the passengers several minutes of weightlessness.

This landmark private customer flight, long delayed, signifies that Virgin Galactic, founded by Richard Branson, is now poised to offer monthly space rides, entering the burgeoning space tourism market alongside Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and Elon Musk’s SpaceX.

Among the passengers was 80-year-old Alan Goodwin, an early Virgin Galactic ticket holder from 2005. Despite being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease later on, Goodwin managed to pursue various physical challenges, including climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and cycling back down. His participation in this spaceflight serves as an inspiration to those with Parkinson’s and other illnesses, showing that such conditions need not hinder one’s aspirations.

When Goodwin purchased his ticket, the cost was $200,000. Presently, the price has increased to $450,000.

Accompanying Goodwin was Keisha Schahaff, 46, a health coach from Antigua, and her daughter, Anastatia Mayers, 18, a student at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. As they returned to the spaceport amid cheers from the crowd, they shared their excitement through high-fives and pumped fists.

For Schahaff, a cherished childhood dream had finally come true. Her daughter, Anastatia, echoed the sentiment, expressing her astonishment and the overwhelming feeling of “Wow!” throughout the entire experience.

Notably, this flight marked a gender milestone, with women outnumbering men aboard the spaceflight, four to two, alongside the company’s astronaut trainer and one of the two pilots.

Cheers erupted from onlookers below as the rocket motor ignited after being released from the twin-fuselage aircraft that transported it aloft. The rocket ship’s flight lasted approximately 15 minutes, reaching a peak altitude of 55 miles (88 kilometers).

While this marked Virgin Galactic’s seventh space journey since 2018, it was the first to include a private ticket holder. Richard Branson, the company’s founder, had previously joined the first full-size crew ride in 2021. Earlier in June, Italian military and government researchers participated in the first commercial flight. Presently, around 800 individuals are on Virgin Galactic’s waiting list.

In contrast to Virgin Galactic’s plane-launched rocket ship, the capsules used by SpaceX and Blue Origin are fully automated and return via parachute. Blue Origin focuses on suborbital flights from West Texas, while SpaceX is the sole private company sending customers into full orbit. Its significant price tag is justified by the extensive services, including missions for NASA.

Despite the risks associated with adventure travel, as highlighted by the recent tragedy involving the Titan submersible, space tourism continues to attract interest. Virgin Galactic itself experienced a setback in 2014 when its rocket plane disintegrated during a test flight, resulting in the loss of a pilot. Nevertheless, space enthusiasts remain undeterred, a trend that began with the first space tourist’s orbit in 2001 with the Russians.

As this historic flight unfolded, Branson watched from Antigua, joined by the country’s prime minister and the relatives of Schahaff. With a sense of camaraderie, Branson extended his congratulations to the new spacefarers through social media.

Several months earlier, Branson held a virtual lottery to determine the order of the company’s first 50 customers, known as the Founding Astronauts. The group collectively decided that Alan Goodwin would lead the way, considering his age and his battle with Parkinson’s.