Virgin Galactic Plans Return to Space This Month

The crewed mission will clear the runway for commercial launch in June.

Monday, May 08, 2023 at 05:52 PM ET

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A tailcone view from Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity test flight in April, the first since 2021. [Courtesy: Virgin Galactic]

Key Takeaways:

After years of delays stemming from an FAA investigation, aircraft refurbishment, and financial losses, Virgin Galactic is set to return to space with a critical test flight (Unity 25) this month.
A successful test flight will pave the way for commercial space tourism to begin in June, aiming to offer 90-minute suborbital journeys for $450,000 a ticket to wealthy clients, amidst significant operating losses and competition from Blue Origin.

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Ninety minutes of weightlessness, exhilaration, and panoramic views of the Earth for the price of $450,000 a head—that’s the vision Virgin Galactic wants to turn into reality next month.

Billionaire business mogul Richard Branson’s space tourism firm has been quiet since the founder’s highly publicized maiden voyage in 2021. But on Monday, the firm announced its return to space with a test flight later this month, which could finally clear the way for a commercial launch in June.