Meet the pilots of Virgin Galactic’s first flight to space

For pilots Mark “Forger” Stucky and Frederick “CJ” Sturckow, looming over the flight was the memory of a tragic test flight in 2014. Virgin Galactic’s first vehicle, SpaceShipTwo, ripped apart in mid-air, killing a co-pilot.

Stucky spoke to CNN Business after Thursday’s successful firing of the rebuilt SpaceShipTwo, called VSS Unity, to record heights at nearly three times the speed of sound. He said it was like taking a thoroughbred racehorse into a full gallop for the first time.