Virgin Galactic, a subsidiary of Richard Branson's Virgin Group, is gearing up for its first-ever commercial spaceflight this month, pending successful execution. The company recently announced that it has scheduled the launch window for its debut operational flight, known as Galactic 01, between June 27 and June 30.
The mission, Galactic 01, has a scientific research focus and will involve three crew members from the Italian Air Force and the National Research Council of Italy. Their primary objective will be to conduct microgravity research during spaceflight. Virgin Galactic representatives provided these details in a statement released on Thursday, June 15.
Start of Virgin Galactic's Commercial Spaceflight
The statement emphasized that Virgin Galactic's upcoming spaceflight, Galactic 01, will highlight the significant scientific capabilities of their unique suborbital science lab. The mission aims to demonstrate the value and potential of carrying scientific payloads onboard their spaceflight system.
As per Space.com, the spaceflight system consists of two components: VMS Eve, a carrier plane, and VSS Unity, a six-passenger, two-pilot space plane. The flight begins as Eve takes off from a runway, carrying Unity under its wings. At an altitude of approximately 50,000 feet (15,000 meters), Unity is released and ignites its onboard rocket motor to propel itself to suborbital space.
During the flight, passengers aboard Unity will experience a few minutes of weightlessness and witness the breathtaking view of Earth against the backdrop of space. Afterward, Unity will smoothly glide back to Earth, executing an unpowered runway landing.
Unity has completed five test missions to suborbital space, with the most recent one occurring on May 25. Following a period of maintenance and upgrades, this latest flight marked Virgin Galactic's return to space operations since July 2021. The enhancements performed on Unity and Eve have prepared both vehicles for the increased flight rate expected during commercial service.
Virgin Galactic's Shares Rebound As Commercial Spaceflight Plans Progress
Virgin Galactic has announced plans for their second operational flight, Galactic 02, scheduled for early August, with monthly commercial flights to follow. These missions will take off from Spaceport America in New Mexico, serving as Virgin Galactic's commercial hub. Those interested in securing a seat on the VSS Unity will need to be prepared to spend $450,000 for a ticket.
Excitingly, Virgin Galactic is in the process of developing a fleet of new "Delta-class" space planes, which they anticipate will be capable of launching once a week. The company aims to have these advanced spaceliners fully operational by 2026, offering even more opportunities for individuals to experience space travel in the near future.
As per Reuters, Virgin Galactic's shares experienced a significant decline last year after losing more than two-thirds of their value, primarily attributed to the delays in the company's launch of commercial service. However, there has been a recent positive development as the shares were up to $6.30 in aftermarket trading on Thursday.
To improve its spacecraft, the company temporarily halted flights of the VSS Unity spaceplane and its carrier plane in 2021. These necessary enhancements caused a delay in the inaugural customer mission to the edge of space.
Nonetheless, in February, Virgin Galactic announced the successful completion of an extensive upgrade period for their flagship tourist spacecraft, paving the way for the commencement of their first commercial spaceflight. As a result, the company's shares have witnessed a rise of approximately 16% in 2023 thus far.
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