Ireland’s First Astronaut Set to Make History with Virgin Galactic Spaceflight
Dr. Norah Patten, Ireland’s first astronaut, is set to make history with a spaceflight aboard Virgin Galactic’s new Delta Class spaceship. The mission, organized by the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences, aims to maximize research potential and pave the way for future scientist-astronauts. Dr. Patten’s passion for space began at a young age, leading her to pursue a career in aeronautical engineering and bioastronautics research. With the mission scheduled for 2026, she is on the verge of fulfilling her lifelong dream of experiencing suborbital spaceflight.
Virgin Galactic Completes Final Commercial Suborbital Spaceflight with VSS Unity
Virgin Galactic completes final commercial suborbital spaceflight with VSS Unity, carrying Turkish researcher and three private astronauts. Flight included experiments by Tuva Atasever, automated payloads from Purdue University and UC Berkeley. Private astronauts onboard were from SpaceX, real estate, and investment backgrounds. Commanded by Nicola Pecile with Jameel Janjua as pilot, marking 7th commercial flight for VSS Unity.