Private Space Flights

Have you ever thought about taking a trip to space?

Soon, that might be possible thanks to the work for two private space companies, SpaceX and Virgin Galactic.

 

• SpaceX

SpaceX is an American company founded by an inventor named Elon Musk.

It is currently working with NASA  to build a manned spacecraft called the Crew Dragon.

This spacecraft is designed to carry up to seven NASA astronauts into space.

In March, SpaceX tested the Crew Dragon for the first time without any astronauts on board.

It successfully flew from the United States to the International Space Station and back.

 

• Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic is a British company founded by an entrepreneur named Richard Brandon.

At the moment, it is working on a spacecraft called the VSS Unity.

This spacecraft is expected to carry tourists into space.

It will fly about 80 kilometers above the surface of Earth.

There, tourists will be able to experience weightlessness before returning to the ground.

 

This February, Virgin Galactic tested the VSS Unity with a human passenger for the first time.

The company has also started selling tickets for future flights.

Each ticket will cost 250,000 dollars.

 

@ thank to  ~의 덕분에 

@ manned  유인(有人)의(기계·차량·장소·활동의 운영·조작을 사람이 하는), (↔unmanned)   It was the first manned spacecraft.

@ on board   선상(船上)의, 기내의, 차내의   an on-board motor

@ fly about 

1. Birds fly about in flocks. Bald Eagles can fly about 105 km/h.

날아다니다, 흩어지다

1. The rumor about John's corruption flied about really fast.   kəˈrʌpʃn  (특히 권위 있는 위치에 있는 사람들의) 부패[타락]

(소문 따위가) 퍼지다

 

@ weightlessness  무중력 상태  The trip will only offer two to five hours of weightlessness.