Virgin Galactic, the space tourism company founded by Richard Branson, has revealed its plans for the highly anticipated launch of its first commercial spaceflight. The company aims to conduct its inaugural operational flight, Galactic 01, between June 27 and June 30. This announcement has caused a surge in excitement, with Virgin Galactic shares surging by over 40 pervcent in extended New York trade.
Galactic 01 is a significant milestone for Virgin Galactic as it marks the commencement of the company’s commercial spaceline operations. This maiden spaceflight will have a scientific research focus and will carry three crew members from the Italian Air Force and the National Research Council of Italy. Their primary objective will be to undertake microgravity research, utilizing the suborbital science lab offered by Virgin Galactic.
Michael Colglazier, the CEO of Virgin Galactic, expressed his enthusiasm for this new chapter, stating, “We are launching the first commercial spaceline for Earth with two dynamic products – our scientific research and private astronaut space missions. This next exciting chapter for Virgin Galactic has been driven by innovation, determination, and commitment to delivering an unparalleled and truly transformative customer experience.”
The launch of Galactic 01 will pave the way for subsequent commercial flights, with Galactic 02 already planned for early August. The space tourism company intends to offer monthly commercial flights in the future, targeting space enthusiasts eager to witness the breathtaking view of Earth from space and experience moments of weightlessness at an altitude of over 260,000 feet (80 kilometers). However, this extraordinary experience comes at a steep price, with tickets currently priced at $450,000 per person.
Virgin Galactic’s suborbital spaceflight system consists of two primary components: the carrier plane, VMS Eve, and the pilot space plane, VSS Unity. The carrier plane lifts off from a runway, carrying Unity beneath its wings. Once at an altitude of approximately 50,000 feet (15,000 meters), Unity is released and ignites its onboard rocket motor, propelling itself to suborbital space. Passengers on board Unity will enjoy several minutes of weightlessness while gazing at the Earth against the backdrop of the vastness of space. Afterward, Unity will glide back to Earth for an unpowered runway landing.
Prior to the debut of Galactic 01, Unity successfully completed its final test spaceflight, Unity 25, last month. Following this test, the Virgin Galactic team conducted a thorough analysis and vehicle inspections, ensuring the readiness of their vehicles and crew for the upcoming commercial flights.
The company has already sold over 800 tickets for its space tourism flights, highlighting the tremendous interest and demand for this unique experience. The company’s commitment to expanding its operations is evident, with plans underway to construct a fleet of new “Delta-class” space aircraft, allowing for weekly suborbital trips in the near future.
Virgin Galactic’s rival in the space tourism industry, Blue Origin, led by Jeff Bezos, also offers paid suborbital journeys with their New Shepard vehicle. However, the company has not conducted a launch since September 2022 due to an anomaly during an uncrewed research flight.
As the countdown begins for Virgin Galactic’s first commercial spaceflight, all eyes are on the company as it prepares to usher in a new era of space tourism and open up the wonders of space to a select group of adventurous individuals.
