【Hizoban Higasa no onna】

The Hizoban Higasa no onnaVirgin Hyperloop company, which is turning Elon Musk's idea of ferrying passengers through vacuum tubes at high speeds into reality, has reached its most important milestone yet: it carried human passengers for the first time.

The test, concluded on Sunday, consisted of carrying two passengers some 500 meters (1640 feet) in a pod that goes through a near-vacuum tube on Virgin Hyperloop's test track in Nevada. The pod achieved speeds of 107 mph, and the trip took 6.25 seconds.

The interior of Virgin Hyperloop's XP-2 pod. Credit: Virgin hyperloop

The two occupants — Josh Giegel, co-founder and chief technology officer, and Sara Luchian, director of passenger experience at Hyperloop — wore casual clothing and experienced no issues during the short trip.

Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

Virgin Hyperloop employees Josh Giegel and Sara Luchian were the first passengers to ride in the XP-2 pod. Credit: virgin hyperloop

According to the New York Times, Luchian said the ride was "much smoother" than she expected, while Giegel commented that it felt "not that much different than accelerating in a sports car."

SEE ALSO: Virgin is working to elevate hyperloop travel by 2030

Musk first described the hyperloop concept in 2012, but has not pursued it commercially, instead opting to freely allow other companies to turn it into a real-life way of transport. It consists of carrying passengers in pods traveling through sealed tubes with low air pressure, which reduces air friction. The pods float above the track using magnetic levitation and are driven forward by an electric motor. The system theoretically makes it possible to carry the pods at speeds of over 700mph, while expending very little energy.

Jay Walder, CEO of Virgin Hyperloop, said that Sunday's test proved the system is safe. "With today’s passenger testing, we have successfully answered this question, demonstrating that not only can Virgin Hyperloop safely put a person in a pod in a vacuum environment, but that the company has a thoughtful approach to safety which has been validated by an independent third party," he said in a statement.

Virgin Hyperloop plans to launch a commercial hyperloop in 2021, though it will need regulators to get on board. The company is currently building a bigger, six-mile-long test track in West Virginia. Other companies working on hyperloop tech include Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, which is based in Los Angeles and Dubai, as well as Hardt, which is based in the Netherlands.

• Entertainment
• Social Good
• Games
• Deals
• Tech
• Digital Culture
• Shopping
• Science

• Your 'wrong person' texts may be linked to Myanmar warlord
• Teslas might get a sensor that detects a child left in a hot car
• Tesla owners asked to charge cars less in California
• Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra with its new Gorilla Glass is tough as nails
• The best day to book your flight, according to Google
• Facebook to crack down on violent rhetoric linked to QAnon and Antifa
• The best "Fall Guys" memes, video clips, jokes, and brutal strategies
• Spotify's new project celebrates artists hit by Trump's travel ban
• Best IPL deal: Save $80 on Braun IPL Silk·Expert
• This guy hid an awesome Easter Egg in a week's worth of tweets

• Best Cyber Monday Sonos deals: Era 300, Ace, Beam at record lows
• Best Cyber Monday keyboard deals in 2024
• Sonos soundbar and headphones Cyber Monday deal: The best way to watch TV
• Best early Cyber Monday Dyson deals: Save on vacuums, hair products, and more
• Book of the Month Cyber Monday coupon code: Save up to $30
• Cyber Monday outdoor deals 2024: Save on tents, hiking gear
• Wordle today: The answer and hints for December 2
• Best Cyber Monday espresso machine deals: Get up to 53% off
• Best Cyber Monday printer and scanner deals: Save up to 55% on Epson, Canon, HP, more
• Best Cyber Monday self

• SpaceX's Starlink will provide free satellite internet to families in Texas school district
• 'Love in the Time of Corona' is welcome comfort viewing: Review
• Poor little dog had to be rescued from lagoon 2 times by police officers
• Hamster's vet tale will leave you laugh crying
• Hidden Siri Commands and Unusual Responses
• This guy hid an awesome Easter Egg in a week's worth of tweets
• The asteroid headed towards us on Election Day 2020 is all hype
• Zoom is down in some parts of the U.S.
• NYT Connections hints and answers for May 10: Tips to solve 'Connections' #699.
• Google Maps now shows a lot more information about wildfires

• The Best Gaming Concept Art of 2016
• Tesla owners asked to charge cars less in California
• Everything coming to Hulu in September 2020
• Poor raccoon is absolutely terrified of fireworks
• Best headphones deal: Save up to 51% on Beats at Amazon
• TikTok confirms plan to sue the Trump administration over U.S. ban
• TikTok announces plan to 'eliminate' hate speech on its platform
• New photographic evidence may mean Amelia Earhart survived her plane crash
• Inside the Murky Process of Getting Games on Steam
• Pete Souza throws straight fire at Putin ahead of meeting with Trump