Virgin Galactic Unity 23

Virgin Galactic Unity 23 is a planned sub-orbital spaceflight of the SpaceShipTwo-class VSS Unity which is intended to launch in 2023.[1][2] It is a research mission for the Italian Air Force. The crew will consist of pilots Frederick Sturckow and Michael Masucci as well as crewmembers Beth Moses, Walter Villadei, Angelo Landolfi, and Pantaleone Carlucci. The flight was postponed from its original planned October 2021 flight date for Virgin Galactic to upgrade its SpaceShipTwo vehicles. [3][4]

Virgin Galactic Unity 23
VSS Unity in February 2016
Mission typeCrewed suborbital spaceflight
OperatorVirgin Galactic
Spacecraft properties
SpacecraftVSS Unity
Spacecraft typeSpaceShipTwo
ManufacturerThe Spaceship Company
Crew
Members
Start of mission
Launch date2023
Launch siteSpaceport America Runway 34
Deployed fromVMS Eve
End of mission
Landing siteSpaceport America Runway 34
 

During the flight, Villadei is expected to wear a suit to measure biometric data and his physiological responses to spaceflight. Landolfi will carry out experiments on the effects of microgravity on cognitive performance along with its effects on how materials mix. Carlucci's heart rate and other metrics will be monitored through sensors during the flight.[5]

Crew
Position Crew
Pilot United States Frederick W. Sturckow
Seventh spaceflight
Co-Pilot United States Michael Masucci
Third spaceflight
Safety Officer United States Beth Moses
Third spaceflight
Physician Italy Angelo Landolfi
First spaceflight
Mission Lead Italy Walter Villadei
First spaceflight
Astronaut Reasearcher Italy Pantaleone Carlucci
First spaceflight

References
  1. "Virgin Galactic Announces First Commercial Research Mission". Virgin Galactic. 2 September 2021. Retrieved 2 September 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. Foust, Jeff (5 August 2022). "Virgin Galactic again delays start of commercial suborbital flights". SpaceNews. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  3. @virgingalactic (14 October 2021). "Flight test program update" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. Foust, Jeff (15 October 2021). "Virgin Galactic postpones SpaceShipTwo flight, begins maintenance period". SpaceNews. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  5. updated, Mike Wall last (2 September 2021). "Virgin Galactic announces crew for next launch to suborbital space". Space.com. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
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