WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — A Purdue aerospace engineering professor and student are about to take the classroom to new heights.

On Tuesday, Virgin Galactic and Purdue University announced an upcoming private space mission to the edge of space, crewed entirely by Boilermakers.

The five-person 'Purdue 1' crew is expected to lift off in 2027 on board Virgin Galactic's Delta Class spaceship.

Three of the seats are already filled: one for professor of aerospace engineering Steven Collicott, one for Purdue alum Jason Williamson and another for graduate student Abigail Mizzi.

Another is already reserved by a Purdue alumna, the university announced. The fifth seat is waiting to be filled.

"We didn't have to build a rocket," Collicott said. "We didn't have to invent a space port, we didn't have to

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