Italian researchers reach the edge of space, flying aboard Virgin Galactic's rocket-powered plane
A team of Italian researchers has reached the edge of space, flying aboard Virgin Galactic’s rocket-powered plane ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- A team of Italian research ers reached the edge of space Thursday morning, flying aboard a rocket -powered plane piloted by Virgin Galactic as the space tourism company prepares for monthly commercial flights. The flight launched from Spaceport America in the New Mexico desert, with two Italian Air Force officers and an engineer with the National Research Council of Italy focusing on a series of microgravity experiments during their few minutes of weightlessness. One wore a special suit that measured biometric data and physiological responses while another conducted tests using sensors to track heart rate, brain function and other metrics while in microgravity. The third studied how certain liquids and solids mix in that very weak gravity. Virgin Galactic livestreamed the flight on its website, showing the moment when the ship released from its car...