Virgin Galactic's first house tourism flight launches at the moment, blasting a former Olympian and mother-daughter duo above the Earth.

It follows the corporate's inaugural commercial trip earlier this summer, when three Italian residents had been taken into low orbit for scientific analysis experiments.

Thursday's take-off is billed as a leisure endeavour, with some crewmates successful their seats in a prize draw.

Who's on board?

The former Olympian on board is Jon Goodwin, who competed in canoeing on the 1972 Games in Munich.

The 80-year-old, from Newcastle, would be the second individual with Parkinson's illness to succeed in the sting of house.

He mentioned: "I hope this inspires all others facing adversity and shows them that challenges don't have to inhibit or stop them from pursuing their dreams."

Joining him on VSS Unity are Keisha Schahaff, 46, and 18-year-old Anastatia Mayers, who will turn into the primary astronauts - skilled or in any other case - from the Caribbean.

They will even be the primary mom and daughter to journey on a spaceflight collectively.

Ms Schahaff is a wellness coach, whereas her daughter research philosophy and physics on the University of Aberdeen.

Ms Schahaff mentioned: "I know I'll be changed by my experience.

"I hope I'll be capable to share that power and encourage the individuals round me - in my position as a life coach, a mom, and ambassador for our lovely planet."

Of course, the crew will not be heading into house alone.

They'll be joined by pilots CJ Sturckow and Kelly Latimer, alongside astronaut teacher Beth Moses.

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When and the place is the launch taking place?

The launch will occur at Spaceport America in New Mexico, with the window for take-off opening at 4pm UK time.

Similarly to how the now-defunct Virgin Orbit carried a rocket skyward from Newquay back in January, it's going to see VSS Unity hooked up to a airplane.

Once the airplane has taken off from the runway and hit launch altitude, the spacecraft will probably be launched and use its highly effective rocket engine to shoot as much as round 50 miles above the Earth.

Those piloting the airplane, referred to as VMS Eve, won't attain house.

The duo, Nicola Pecile and Mike Masucci, will as a substitute head straight again to the runway.

The crew who do stick with it into orbit will expertise 5 minutes of weightlessness and a few nice views, earlier than heading house.

The complete flight will solely take round 90 minutes.

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How can I watch it?

You can watch a dwell stream of the launch on the Sky News web site, app, and YouTube channel.

If you possibly can't watch it dwell, you can catch it afterward demand.

Will there be extra flights like this in future?

Virgin Galactic is aiming to hold out month-to-month non-public flights, with seats priced between $250,000 (£191,000) and $450,000 (£344,000).

It means the subsequent flight might occur as quickly as September.

For anybody with out such riches to name upon, they will must depend on different alternatives.

Ms Schahaff and her daughter received their seats in a contest to boost funds for Space for Humanity, a non-profit group that goals to ship abnormal residents into house to offer them a "grander perspective" on the challenges going through Earth.