The One More Orbit is a mission aimed at breaking the world record for the fastest circumnavigation of the Earth via both poles, involving a joint effort by a team from many nations led by Terry Virts and Hamish Harding.[1][2]

An international flight crew set a new record for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe via the North and South Poles, clocking nearly six hours less than the previous mark. The 25,000-mile mission, named "One More Orbit," was led by Terry Virts, a former International Space Station commander, as a tribute to the Apollo 11 moon landings.[3][4][1]

History

On July 11, 2019, One More Orbit achieved the World Speed Record for circumnavigating both Poles and the world. About five years before the mission, Hamish Harding discussed the idea of a global circumnavigation flight with some Apollo astronauts, sparking the concept of flying on "one more orbit."[5][6]

During July 9–11, 2019, One More Orbit shattered the Round-the-World record for any aircraft by navigating over both the North and South poles.[7] They completed the fastest Circumnavigation of the Earth via both the Poles in just 46 hours and 40 minutes, cruising at an average speed of 465 knots (535 mph or 861 km/h). The speed record achieved by One More Orbit is included and has received certification from both the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) and Guinness world records.[8][9][10]

Led by Mission Directors Capt. Hamish Harding and Col. Terry Virts, a NASA Astronaut, alongside an eight-member crew, the record-breaking flight achieved a circumnavigation of Earth via both geographic poles using a Qatar Executive Gulfstream G650ER ultra-long-range business jet. This feat coincided with the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Apollo 11 moon landing.[11][12][13]

The mission took off from Space Florida's Launch and Landing Facility, previously known as NASA’s Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility, echoing the historic launch site of Apollo 11 half a century earlier.[14][15]

The One More Orbit flight commenced precisely at 09:32 EDT, mirroring the exact launch time of Apollo 11. At 12:12 UTC on July 11, 2019.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 Woodyatt, Amy (July 11, 2019). "Flight crew breaks record for circumnavigating globe via both poles". CNN.
  2. ↑ "Dubai-based British expat and Guinness World Record holder Hamish Harding to travel to space". gulfnews.com. 2022-06-02. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  3. ↑ Sircar, Nandini. "Dubai expat to take off on Blue Origin spaceflight on June 4". Khaleej Times.
  4. ↑ "Dubai-based British expat and Guinness World Record holder Hamish Harding to travel to space". gulfnews.com.
  5. ↑ https://www.worldrecordacademy.org/travel/fastest-aerial-circumnavigation-of-the-earth-via-both-geographical-poles-one-more-orbit-219360
  6. 1 2 Reed, Dan. "Around The World In 48 Hours: International Team To Commemorate Apollo 11 Launch With World Record Flight Attempt". Forbes.
  7. ↑ "One More Orbit team circle the globe in under 47 hours | World Air Sports Federation". www.fai.org. July 12, 2019.
  8. ↑ Giardina, Carolyn (June 23, 2023). "Cinematographer Remembers Titanic Sub Crew Member Hamish Harding, Collaborator on 2020 Doc 'One More Orbit'". The Hollywood Reporter.
  9. ↑ "Hamish Harding, the British billionaire onboard missing Titanic sub, has an extreme love for extreme tourism". www.dailyo.in.
  10. ↑ Amy Thompson (July 13, 2019). "Retired NASA Astronaut Terry Virts, Aviators Set World Circumnavigation Speed Record to Honor Apollo 11". Space.com.
  11. ↑ "A crew of pilots and former astronauts broke a world record after flying 25,000 miles around the globe in 46 hours". Business Insider.
  12. ↑ Newspaper, The Peninsula (December 18, 2019). "Qatar Executive celebrates world circumnavigation speed record". thepeninsulaqatar.com.
  13. ↑ "One More Orbit's globe-circling jet is set to break aviation records - UPI.com". UPI.
  14. ↑ Berger, Eric (July 1, 2019). "Around the world in 48 hours? Former astronaut to attempt global speed record". Ars Technica.
  15. ↑ Giardina, Carolyn (July 8, 2019). "Astronaut Terry Virts Directing Movie About His Round-the-World Speed Record Attempt". The Hollywood Reporter.
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