Michael Masucci is a

test pilot A test pilot is an aircraft pilot with additional training to fly and evaluate experimental, newly produced and modified aircraft with specific maneuvers, known as flight test techniques.Stinton, Darrol. ''Flying Qualities and Flight Testing ...

for

Virgin Galactic Virgin Galactic is an American spaceflight company founded by Richard Branson and his British Virgin Group retains an 11.9% stake through Virgin Investments Limited. It is headquartered in California, and operates from New Mexico. The company i ...

and a

commercial astronaut A commercial astronaut is a person who has commanded, piloted, or served as an active crew member of a privately funded spacecraft. This is distinct from an otherwise non-government astronaut, for example Charlie Walker, who flies while represe ...

. He is a former U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel and U2 test pilot. Masucci first flew to space in February 2019, during the

VSS Unity VF-01 VF-01 was a sub-orbital spaceflight of the SpaceShipTwo-class VSS ''Unity'' that took place on 22 February 2019, piloted by David Mackay and co-piloted by Mike Masucci. It was operated by Virgin Galactic, a private company led by Richard Brans ...

mission, and again in July 2021, onboard

Virgin Galactic Unity 22 Virgin Galactic Unity 22 was a sub-orbital spaceflight of the SpaceShipTwo-class VSS ''Unity'' which launched on 11 July 2021. The crew consisted of pilots David Mackay and Michael Masucci as well as passengers Sirisha Bandla, Colin Bennett ...

. He is scheduled to fly to space again onboard Unity 23, sometime in 2023.

Missions

Virgin Galactic Unity 23 Virgin Galactic Unity 23 is a planned sub-orbital spaceflight of the SpaceShipTwo-class VSS ''Unity'' which is intended to launch in 2023. It is a research mission for the Italian Air Force. The crew will consist of pilots Frederick Sturckow ...

References

Commercial astronauts People who have flown in suborbital spaceflight Virgin Galactic Living people Year of birth missing (living people) Place of birth missing (living people) American test pilots {{Aviation-bio-stub