/*Virgin Galactic*/, dubbed "the world's first commercial spaceline" by the company, says the agreement with Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is the first to fly scientists into space for the purpose of research.
Space flight is considered more than 328,000 feet above Earth, more than 100 kilometers.
Two researchers have been contracted by SwRI to perform experiments in space, and six more seats were intended to be procured, for a total value of $1.6 million, according to Virgin Galactic.
Scientists were to perform research on microgravity, biology, climate and astronomy.
Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo is the only crewed suborbital vehicle in flight test today, and the only vehicle based on a spacecraft that has already sent humans into space, the /*X Prize*/-winning /*SpaceShipOne*/, according to the company.
/*NASA*/ is developing a program to open research opportunities for scientists to perform research on suborbital vehicles through its Commercial Reusable Suborbital Research Flight Opportunities program.
