Virgin Galactic successfully flew into suborbital space on Thursday, Dec. 13, bringing billionaire R

Virgin Galactic successfully flew into suborbital space on Thursday, Dec. 13, bringing billionaire Richard Branson’s dream of creating a space tourism industry one step closer.

AsThe Washington Postreports:

Though it did not reach orbit, the flight was the first launch of a spacecraft from United States soil with humans on board to reach the edge of space since the Space Shuttle was retired in 2011. And it gave Virgin Galactic an edge in the race for human spaceflight, as a number of companies, including SpaceX, Blue Origin and Boeing, work to develop spacecraft capable of flying humans.

The flight carried two pilots more than 50 miles in the air Thursday morning.

Read the full story: Washington Post, “Virgin Galactic reaches space and is one step closer to space tourism”

(Image Credit/Caption: Virgin Galactic / VSS Unity takes to the skies for her Third Powered Test Flight on July 26)