Students at Virgin Galactic launch ready to 'discover new things about the galaxy'
Record ID:
1626045
Students at Virgin Galactic launch ready to 'discover new things about the galaxy'
- Title: Students at Virgin Galactic launch ready to 'discover new things about the galaxy'
- Date: 11th July 2021
- Summary: TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, NEW MEXICO, UNITED STATES (JULY 11, 2021) (REUTERS) CROWD AT SPACEPORT AMERICA WOMAN TAKING PICTURES ON PHONE VARIOUS OF CROWD TAKING PICTURES AND WATCHING AIRCRAFT TAKES OFF UNITY 22 AIRCRAFT FLYING STUDENTS IN CROWD (SOUNDBITE) (English) TALLIYAH CORBIN, 13, SOPHOMORE AT ARROWHEAD EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL, SAYING: "It was really nice. I mean it was hot, but it was really cool. and I'm happy that we're able to go into space now and discover new things about the galaxy." MAN TAKING PICTURE WHILE HOLDING UMBRELLA JUMBO SCREEN SHOWING AIRCRAFT MORE VARIOUS OF CROWD TAKING PICTURES AND LOOKING AT SKY VARIOUS OF PEOPLE HUGGING IN CROWD (SOUNDBITE) (English) TALLIYAH CORBIN, 13, SOPHOMORE AT ARROWHEAD EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL, SAYING: "It makes me really excited because it makes me want to explore these types of sciences and try to create cool projects like this." HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN CROWD VARIOUS OF CROWD JUMBO SCREEN (SOUNDBITE) (English) LILIANA CARRUTH, 8, THIRD GRADER AT MONTE VISTA ELEMENTARY, SAYING: "Everyone was really happy and I felt excited about that." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) LILIANA CARRUTH, 8, THIRD GRADER AT MONTE VISTA ELEMENTARY, SAYING: "We've been studying different types of galaxies and planets and my favorite, my favorite thing that we've been studying is the art of space." WOMAN LOOKING TOWARD SKY CROWD UNDERNEATH JUMBO SCREEN SIR RICHARD BRANSON ON SCREEN (AUDIO UNINTELLIGIBLE) AIRCRAFT IN SKY (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUBRIANNA LOPEZ, 9, THIRD GRADER AT MONTE VISTA ELEMENTARY, SAYING: "It was exciting and I am happy to be here." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) AUBRIANNA LOPEZ, 9, THIRD GRADER AT MONTE VISTA ELEMENTARY, SAYING: "What I like about science is that you can discover more things about other creatures and people and other things." VARIOUS OF CROWD LOOKING AT SKY PEOPLE HUGGING PEOPLE CELEBRATING CROWD IN FRONT OF SCREEN
- Embargoed: 25th July 2021 18:40
- Keywords: Richard Branson STEM Spaceport America Unity Virgin Galactic education launch next generation of STEM space launch students
- Location: TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, NEW MEXICO, UNITED STATES
- City: TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, NEW MEXICO, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Science,Space Exploration,United States
- Reuters ID: LVA001ELECBPJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Dozens of local New Mexico elementary and high school students had a front-row ground seat to watch the first fully crewed test flight to space on British billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic rocket plane on Sunday (July 11).
Talliyah Corbin, a 13-year-old sophomore at Arrowhead Early College High School in nearby Las Cruces, said it was really cool to be here at Spaceport America to watch the flight.
"I'm happy that we're able to go into space now and discover new things about the galaxy," said Corbin.
Branson, one of six Virgin Galactic Holding Inc employees strapped in for the ride, has touted the mission as a precursor to a new era of space tourism, with the company he founded in 2004 poised to begin commercial operations next year.
The success of the flight also gave the flamboyant entrepreneur bragging rights in a highly publicized rivalry with fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos, the Amazon online retail mogul who had hoped to fly into space first aboard his own space company's rocket.
Sunday's launch of the VSS Unity passenger rocket plane marked the company's 22nd test flight of its SpaceShipTwo system, and its fourth crewed mission beyond Earth's atmosphere. It was also the first to carry a full complement of space travelers - two pilots and four "mission specialists," Branson among them.
Corbin said the flight is inspiring her to continue her interest in life sciences, geology and biology.
"It makes me really excited because it makes me want to explore these types of sciences and try to create cool projects like this," she said.
Also in the audience were students from Monte Vista Elementary School, including 9-year-old Aubrianna Lopez.
"What I like about science is that you can discover more things about other creatures and people and other things," Lopez said.
Teachers from Monte Vista Elementary School had earlier told Reuters that space science had motivated the students during the past year amid the difficulties of virtual school.
(Production: Nathan Frandino) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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