First New Mexico Woman Set to Go to Space
Virgin Galactic is gearing up for its upcoming space mission this month, and among the six-person crew is Jamil Gilbert, a native of New Mexico.
Having graduated from New Mexico State University and grown up in Alamogordo and Las Cruces, Gilbert will be embarking on a journey just one hour away from her hometown.
This test flight is a significant milestone for Gilbert as it will make her one of the first 100 women to reach space.
Joining the company in 2019, she expressed her excitement about the opportunity to travel to space and share her story.
It’s a dream come true for her, considering she will be flying just under an hour’s drive away from the street she grew up on.
Accompanying Gilbert on the mission is flight science engineer Chris Huey, who is set to become the 19th black astronaut in the world.
Reflecting on the limited diversity in the field, Huey expressed his gratitude for being in such a unique position and emphasized the importance of representation.
This upcoming flight will mark the fifth time that Virgin Galactic’s spacecraft, Unity, has reached space.
Prior to this mission, Unity underwent numerous flight tests on approximately 20 occasions.
With more than 800 passengers eagerly waiting to experience the wonders of space travel, Virgin Galactic continues to push boundaries and open up new horizons.
As the countdown begins for this historic flight, the world eagerly anticipates Gilbert’s and Huey’s venture into the cosmos.
Their achievements not only symbolize the progress in space exploration but also inspire future generations to reach for the stars.
