Virgin Galactic Plans Return to Space Tourism with Delta-Class 'Apeiron' in 2027
Virgin Galactic (SPCE) is preparing for a commercial relaunch following the retirement of its Unity spaceplane in June 2024. The company has announced that its first Delta-class spaceplane, named 'Apeiron,' is entering assembly and testing, with commercial operations expected to resume by Q2 2027. A second Delta-class vessel is slated to join the fleet three months later. The company aims to leverage increased flight frequency, targeting two flights per week once fully operational. Despite a significant hiatus from spaceflight, Virgin Galactic reports strong demand, having pre-sold approximately 700 seats and recently raising ticket prices to a record $750,000. The company's long-term financial goal is to achieve positive free cash flow by the end of 2027.
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