Skip to main content

Virgin Galactic reveals date for its first commercial spaceflight

VSS Unity during a test flight to the edge of space.
Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic will embark on its first-ever commercial spaceflight in less than two weeks’ time, the company has announced.

The rocket-powered flight will mark the start of a new phase for Virgin Galactic following years of testing that saw numerous delays and also a crash that killed a pilot.

Recommended Videos

But after a couple of fully crewed test flights, the most recent of which took place last month, Virgin Galactic has revealed that a four-day window for its first commercial flight to the edge of space will open on June 27.

The flight, called Galactic 01, is a scientific research mission that will carry three crew members from the Italian Air Force and the National Research Council of Italy.

Galactic 02 will follow in early August, Virgin Galactic said, with monthly commercial flights expected to begin after that.

The company said that its first mission will “showcase the value and power of the unique suborbital science lab that Virgin Galactic offers,” while the second flight will bring Virgin Galactic’s “unique experience to private astronauts,” some of whom have forked out as much as $450,000 for the trip of a lifetime to the edge of space.

Virgin Galactic uses two aircraft for its flights. It begins with VMS Eve carrying the VSS Unity space plane and its passengers to an altitude of about 50,000 feet. At this point, Eve releases Unity, which then fires up its rocket engine, sending it to a peak altitude of about 282,000 feet (53.4 miles/86 km), about 9 miles short of the Kármán line which is widely considered as where space begins.

The passengers will then have a few minutes to marvel at the amazing views while floating around the cabin during a short period of weightlessness. Once safely back in their seats, those on board can enjoy the ride home, which culminates in a runway landing.

The only other comparable service is Blue Origin’s, which uses a sub-orbital rocket to blast passengers toward the Kármán line. It’s already achieved six successful space tourism flights after its first one in 2021, but a failed uncrewed mission in September last year prompted Blue Origin to suspend operations until further notice.

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
First crewed test flight of Boeing Starliner delayed again, with no new launch date set
Boeing's Starliner spacecraft at the space station during an uncrewed test flight.

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft at the space station during an uncrewed test flight. NASA/Boeing

NASA had been hoping to perform the first crewed launch of the troubled Boeing Starliner capsule this weekend, but now the launch has once again been delayed, with no new date yet announced.

Read more
NASA reveals new target date for first crewed Starliner launch
ULA's Atlas V rocket and Boeing Space's Starliner spacecraft on the launchpad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

ULA's Atlas V rocket and Boeing Space's Starliner spacecraft on the launchpad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA/ Joel Kowsky

NASA has announced a new target date for the first crewed flight of Boeing Space’s Starliner spaceraft.

Read more
NASA reveals target date for first crewed Starliner flight
Boeing Space's Starliner spacecraft.

Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft. Boeing / Boeing

NASA and Boeing are making the final preparations for the long-awaited and much-delayed maiden crewed flight of the CST-100 Starliner spacecraft.

Read more