Galactic 01 was the first commercial spaceflight conducted by Virgin Galactic on June 29, 2023. This mission is considered a milestone in space research and holds the distinction of being the first suborbital research flight carried out in collaboration with the Italian Air Force and the Italian National Research Council (CNR). The flight enabled the execution of 13 different research experiments both crewed and autonomous under microgravity conditions, making it a pioneering mission that combined scientific research with commercial space tourism.

History

After years of test flights, Virgin Galactic successfully carried out its first commercial mission on June 29, 2023. The flight began at Spaceport America in New Mexico, where the carrier aircraft VMS Eve reached an altitude of 44,500 feet before releasing the spacecraft VSS Unity. The vehicle ascended to an altitude of 52.9 miles, reached a speed of Mach 2.88, and returned safely to Earth approximately one hour later.

^{Separation of the carrier aircraft VMS and VSS Unity – VSS Unity, having separated from the VMS Eve carrier aircraft, begins its ascent toward suborbital space. (Virgin Galactic)}

Mission Crew and Pilots

^{Galactic-01 Crew - Virgin Galactic}

The Galactic 01 mission was piloted by Nicola Pecile and commanded by Mike Masucci aboard the VSS Unity spacecraft. The carrier aircraft VMS Eve was operated by Kelly Latimer and Jameel Janjua. The mission crew included the following scientists and astronauts:

• Col. Walter Villadei (Italian Air Force) – Mission Commander
• Lt. Col. Angelo Landolfi (Italian Air Force) – Responsible for biological measurements during the flight
• Pantaleone Carlucci (CNR) – Engineer in charge of materials science and onboard experiments
• Colin Bennett (Virgin Galactic) – Astronaut trainer and observer

Crew

^{The crew inside, floating in zero gravity with the Italian flag. (Virgin Galactic)}

^{Colonel Walter Villadei / Mission Commander – Astronaut 008, Italian Air Force (Virgin Galactic)}

Colonel Villadei is a trained astronaut qualified to operate Soyuz systems and the International Space Station (ISS), with extensive experience supported by Orlan EVA activities and multiple analog training programs. In 2021, he began professional astronaut training with NASA through Axiom Space and was designated as the backup pilot for the Ax-2 mission in 2022. Having completed multidisciplinary training such as centrifuge simulations, parabolic flights, survival exercises, and scuba diving, Villadei took on responsibilities in payload management and biometric data collection during the Galactic 01 mission.

^{Lieutenant Colonel Angelo Landolfi / Flight Surgeon – Astronaut 009, Italian Air Force (Virgin Galactic)}

Lieutenant Colonel Angelo Landolfi is specialized in medicine, surgery, hyperbaric medicine, and forensic medicine. He also holds master's and doctoral degrees in public health, strategic studies, law, and forensic science. As part of his cosmonaut training, he was trained as a flight test surgeon and crew surgeon. During the Galactic 01 mission, he conducted experiments assessing cognitive performance of the human brain under microgravity conditions. He also studied the interaction of liquids and solids in microgravity environments.

^{Pantaleone Carlucci / Engineer – Astronaut 010, Italian National Research Council (CNR) (Virgin Galactic)}

Carlucci is specialized in scientific instrumentation engineering on aircraft platforms and serves as both an energy engineer and pilot at the Italian National Research Council (CNR). He has contributed to technical coordination projects involving stratospheric platforms and air-launch systems. His work in space missions includes payload implementation, sensor calibration, and the analysis of physiological signals. For the Galactic 01 mission, he integrated multi-sensor systems designed to measure heart rate, brain function, and muscle activity, serving as a flight engineer focused on biometric analysis in microgravity.

^{Colin Bennett / Astronaut Instructor – Astronaut 003, Virgin Galactic (Virgin Galactic)}

Colin Bennett served as the astronaut instructor during the mission, overseeing the training and preparation of the Italian Air Force crew. He also participated in the flight to evaluate the research experiments alongside the crew. Bennett was part of Virgin Galactic’s first crewed flight, Unity 22, and has prior experience in various roles including Mission Control and Flight Directorship.

Pilots

The Galactic 01 mission was carried out by experienced pilots who managed both the technical complexities of the suborbital flight and the highly precise launch and landing operations. Below are the profiles of the pilots who took part in the mission.

^{Mike Masucci / Commander – VSS Unity (Virgin Galactic)}

Mike Masucci began his flight career in 1982 and has completed over 80 different types of missions throughout more than 40 years of aviation experience. He has operated high-performance aircraft such as the U-2, F-16, T-38, and Citation X. With over 10,000 flight hours, Masucci served as the commander of VSS Unity, playing a crucial role in ensuring the safe and successful return of the Galactic 01 mission to Earth.

^{Nicola Pecile / Pilot – VSS Unity (Virgin Galactic)}

Nicola Pecile has been active in aviation since 1991 and has experience with over 170 different aircraft types. He has flown both military jets and helicopters, including the Tornado FMK, 3 ADV, and NH-500E platforms, accumulating more than 7,700 flight hours. During the Galactic 01 mission, Pecile was responsible for managing the suborbital flight and overseeing critical vehicle control operations, including attitude stabilization throughout the mission.

^{Kelly Latimer / Commander – VMS Eve (Virgin Galactic)}

Kelly Latimer began her aviation career in 1989 and has flown a wide range of large military and civilian aircraft, including the T-38, C-141, C-17, T-34, and B-747SP. With experience in over 50 different types of aircraft and more than 6,700 flight hours, Latimer served as the commander of the carrier aircraft VMS Eve during the Galactic 01 mission, overseeing takeoff and carrier operations.

^{Jameel Janjua / Pilot – VMS Eve (Virgin Galactic)}

Jameel Janjua began his flight career in 1995 and has operated a wide range of aircraft, including the CF-18, F-16, Tornado GR4, F-15, and Learjet. With experience in over 60 different aircraft types and more than 4,000 flight hours, Janjua served as the co-pilot of the carrier aircraft during the Galactic 01 mission, assisting in the control and operation of VMS Eve.

Mission Objectives

The primary objective of the Galactic 01 mission was to generate scientific data in a microgravity environment and investigate its effects on human physiology and material behavior. The key goals of the mission are summarized in the table below:

^{Table 1. Scientific Research Objectives of the Galactic 01 Mission}

Contributions and Studies

The experiments conducted during the Galactic 01 flight demonstrated the successful implementation of the mission's predefined scientific objectives. A total of 13 experiments were carried out, focusing on areas such as biomedical analysis, thermo-fluid behavior, and material performance in microgravity.

^{Colonel Walter Villadei looking out from the spacecraft (Virgin Galactic)}

The human body’s responses during the transition from hypergravity to microgravity were recorded in detail using wearable sensors and autonomous in-cabin systems. The high-precision data collected through these technologies provided valuable scientific outputs that form a foundation for both short-duration suborbital missions and long-term space expeditions.

Galactic 01 has secured its place in the literature not only as a commercial milestone, but also as a compelling example of how scientific research can be effectively conducted in microgravity environments.

Explanations

Michael Colglazier, CEO of Virgin Galactic, made the following statement after the flight:

Today, our team successfully flew six people and more than a dozen research payloads to space in VSS Unity, our unique, suborbital science lab. This historic flight was our first commercial flight and our first dedicated commercial research mission – ushering in a new era of repeatable and reliable access to space for private passengers and researchers. ‘Galactic 02,’ our first spaceflight with private astronauts, is planned for August and we expect VSS Unity to continue with monthly space missions while we simultaneously work to scale our future spaceship fleet for a global audience.^【1】 

Mission Commander Colonel Walter Villadei reflected on this significant achievement with the following words:

I am beyond proud to be a part of this historic spaceflight. ‘Galactic 01’ is Italy’s first commercial suborbital research spaceflight, and an amazing achievement made possible thanks to the long-lasting collaboration between the Italian Air Force and the National Research Council of Italy. During the centennial year of both Italian institutions, we fly to the highest point of our history. This groundbreaking collaboration propels Italy into the new era of commercial spaceflight as a pathfinder, fostering innovation and paving the way for further technological enhancement in this strategic domain. Together, and in partnership with Virgin Galactic, we have set a precedent for future endeavors and the boundless possibilities that lie ahead. We honor today all the people who not only have made possible this amazing flight, but all the ones who have dedicated their life to our beliefs in this past 100 years. Virtute Siderum Tenus.^【2】 

Sirisha Bandla shared the following remarks regarding the research operations:

We are honored that our first commercial spaceflight enabled the Italian Air Force and the National Research Council of Italy to successfully carry out their first suborbital research experiments. This successful mission gives us just a preview of what discoveries may result from reliable access to space to further scientific knowledge.^【3】 

Impact and Legacy

Galactic 01 demonstrated that space travel extends beyond just technological achievements it also encompasses scientific, diplomatic, and societal dimensions, creating a multifaceted impact. This first suborbital mission conducted by a commercial company in collaboration with scientific institutions proved the viability of public-private partnerships in the field of space research.

This mission, carried out in collaboration with Italy’s national institutions, represents not only a source of scientific output, but also a significant milestone in terms of international prestige and strategic cooperation in the space sector. By demonstrating the data reliability of experiments conducted under microgravity, the mission has generated insights that will directly contribute to the design of future long-duration human spaceflights.

Moreover, the new era ushered in by Galactic 01 has demonstrated that Virgin Galactic can offer regular and accessible spaceflights for both researchers and private individuals in future missions. In this sense, the mission has gone beyond being merely a “first” — it has become a powerful example that the future space research ecosystem can be built on commercial, inclusive, and sustainable foundations.

^{Pre-flight preparations for the Galactic 01 mission, crew boarding the cabin, and moments of liftoff. (Virgin Galactic)}

^{Suborbital flight of the Galactic 01 mission, moments in microgravity, and the crew observing Earth. (Virgin Galactic)}