Galactic 01

Michael Masucci

• Role: Commander
• Nationality: American
• First Flight: 12/11/2013
• Last Flight: 11/02/2023

Mike “Sooch” Masucci was a former U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel and U2 test pilot.

Nicola Pecile

• Birthday: 03/11/1973
• Role: Pilot
• Nationality: Italian
• First Flight: 04/26/2023
• Last Flight: 06/08/2024

Former fighter pilot and experimental test pilot for the Italian Air Force, now pilot at Virgin Galactic.

Colin Bennett

• Role: Instructor
• Nationality: American
• First Flight: 07/11/2021
• Last Flight: 11/02/2023

Colin Bennett is an American engineer who worked at Virgin Atlantic Airways before joining Virgin Galactic in 2015 where he now acts as Lead Astronaut Instructor.

Angelo Landolfi

• Role: Passenger
• Nationality: Italian
• First Flight: 06/29/2023
• Last Flight: 06/29/2023

Italian Air Force physician selected to fly on the Virgin Galactic 01 mission.

Pantaleone Carlucci

• Role: Passenger
• Nationality: Italian
• First Flight: 06/29/2023
• Last Flight: 06/29/2023

Italian National Research Council technical engineer and pilot selected to fly on the Virgin Galactic 01 mission.

Walter Villadei

• Birthday: 04/29/1974
• Role: Passenger
• Nationality: Italian
• First Flight: 06/29/2023
• Last Flight: 01/18/2024

Italian Air Force mission commander on the Virgin Galactic 01 flight. Backup pilot for the Axiom Space Mission 2, Pilon for the Axiom Space Mission 3, qualified on Soyuz, ISS systems, and Orlan for EVA activities.

Galactic 01

• Type: Biology
• Orbit: Suborbital

Research mission for the Italian Air Force, first commercial Virgin Galactic mission.

Spaceport America

Air launch to Suborbital flight

Spaceport America has witnessed the launch of 14 rockets, including 0 orbital launch attempts, while Air launch to Suborbital flight, has been the site for 86 rocket launches.

Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo

The Scaled Composites Model 339 SpaceShipTwo (SS2) is an air-launched suborbital spaceplane type designed for space tourism. It is manufactured by The Spaceship Company, a California-based company owned by Virgin Galactic.

Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic is an American spaceflight company within the Virgin Group. It is developing commercial spacecraft and aims to provide suborbital spaceflights to space tourists. Virgin Galactic’s suborbital spacecraft are air launched from beneath a carrier airplane known as White Knight Two.