Virgin Galactic leads the way as a spaceflight company based in the US, working on suborbital space tourism through its holding company, Virgin Galactic Holdings (NYSE: SPCE). You’ll find their main operations scattered across a few states, with manufacturing in Arizona and flight launches out in New Mexico.
Virgin Galactic is a British-American spaceflight company, founded by Richard Branson and the Virgin Group. Their main focus? Suborbital space tourism and research flights for private astronauts.
Richard Branson’s Virgin Group still holds an 11.9% stake through Virgin Investments Limited. The company’s pretty determined to kick off a new era of commercial space travel, where regular folks can float in zero gravity and catch a glimpse of Earth’s curve.
Virgin Galactic mostly flies suborbital flights up to the edge of space. Each mission brings passengers about 55 miles above Earth before gliding back down for a runway landing.
They’ve just wrapped up development on their next-gen Delta Class spacecraft. These can carry up to six private passengers per trip and, if all goes to plan, should be able to fly up to eight times a month.
Virgin Galactic runs its main flight operations out of Spaceport America in New Mexico. This spot acts as the hub for commercial spaceflights, where passengers take off for their suborbital journeys.
They’ve also finished building a major spacecraft manufacturing facility at Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona. That Phoenix-area facility has two hangars and several assembly bays for putting together the Delta Class spaceships.
Key US Operations:
The Mesa facility has brought hundreds of high-paying aerospace jobs to Arizona. Technical teams here handle the final assembly of Delta spacecraft using subassemblies from other Virgin Galactic sites.
Virgin Galactic made New Mexico the third US state to send humans into space. Their spacecraft hit speeds of Mach 3 during flights—pretty wild if you think about it.
Virgin Galactic Holdings trades on the New York Stock Exchange as SPCE. It’s one of the few pure space tourism stocks out there for investors.
The public company covers Virgin Galactic’s commercial space tourism business. If you grab SPCE stock, you’re buying into the emerging space tourism market.
Virgin Galactic Holdings recently cut 7% of its workforce. They say these layoffs help them focus on launching the upgraded Delta Class spaceplanes and expanding suborbital tourism.
Investment Structure:
They expect Delta Class flights to start in fall 2026. Virgin Galactic Holdings sees these new ships as key to scaling up profitable space tourism across the US.
Virgin Galactic started with Sir Richard Branson‘s vision back in 2004. They reached commercial operations in 2023.
The company managed seven successful commercial spaceflights before pausing in 2024 to work on newer spacecraft.
Sir Richard Branson launched Virgin Galactic in 2004 as part of his Virgin Group. He brought his Virgin Atlantic airline experience—and a love for big, bold adventures—straight into the space tourism game.
The company grew out of the success of SpaceShipOne, which snagged the Ansari X Prize in 2004. Virgin Group quickly licensed the tech from Mojave Aerospace Ventures after that prize-winning flight.
Branson had actually registered the Virgin Galactic name way back in 1999. You can tell he was thinking about commercial spaceflight long before it was cool.
They set up shop in California and based flight operations at Spaceport America in New Mexico.
Development took longer than anyone hoped. The first flight didn’t happen until 2018—about eight years behind schedule, thanks to technical challenges and safety rules.
Virgin Galactic uses a pretty unique air-launch system. The VMS Eve mothership carries the VSS Unity spaceplane up to release altitude, and then Unity fires its hybrid rocket to reach suborbital space.
Virgin Galactic sent up its first commercial spaceflight in June 2023. Two Italian Air Force officers and an aerospace engineer rode along to run scientific experiments during the 90-minute trip.
In August 2023, they started flying paying customers. These flights took passengers about 54 miles up—right where the U.S. military and NASA say “space” begins.
Mission Details:
Passengers get a few minutes of weightlessness and an unforgettable view of Earth’s curve. Unity lands back on the same runway it took off from.
Virgin Galactic paused commercial flights in June 2024. They retired VSS Unity to focus on developing the fourth-generation Delta class spacecraft, with plans to fly again in fall 2026.
Richard Branson made headlines in July 2021 when he flew aboard a test flight, becoming the first billionaire founder to reach space on his own company’s vehicle. The FAA grounded Virgin Galactic for 11 weeks after the flight due to concerns about the flight path.
Galactic 01 was the first commercial mission in June 2023. The Italian crew ran several scientific experiments during their suborbital ride.
The last commercial flight with VSS Unity happened in June 2024. Six space tourists joined what turned out to be Unity’s seventh and final civilian mission.
Virgin Galactic finished its final test flight in May 2023 before starting commercial service. They’ve already announced crew members for future research flights, including returning passenger Kellie Gerardi.
Ticket prices started at around $600,000 for a seat on Delta spacecraft. Prices are expected to go up when ticket sales open again in early 2026.
Each new Delta spaceship will carry six passengers and fly up to eight times a month. That’s a big jump in how often they can fly compared to Unity.
Spaceport America claims the title of the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport. It sits out in New Mexico’s desert, and Virgin Galactic anchors the place with a 20-year lease, running all their commercial spaceflight missions from here.
Spaceport America covers 18,000 acres of State Trust Land in the Jornada del Muerto desert. It’s about 45 miles north of Las Cruces and 20 miles southeast of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.
The Gateway to Space building holds astronaut training and mission operations. Virgin Galactic’s instructors run pre-flight briefings here, getting passengers ready for flight profiles, spacesuits, and safety routines.
Their horizontal launch system needs a special runway for Virgin Galactic’s air-launch style. The VMS Eve mothership takes off from this runway, carrying the VSS Unity spaceplane to release altitude.
New Mexico invested at least $209 million in public funds to bring Virgin Galactic in and build the spaceport. That move made New Mexico the third US state to launch humans into space, after California and Florida.
Virgin Galactic holds exclusive rights to Spaceport America’s horizontal launch area under a long-term lease. Every commercial passenger flight starts and ends at this facility.
The spaceport has seen 32 people reach suborbital space on 12 missions so far. Seven commercial passenger missions took off between June 2023 and June 2024 before the company paused for upgrades.
Virgin Galactic’s flight days start with the VMS Eve mothership rolling down Spaceport America’s runway. The carrier plane takes passengers up to about 50,000 feet before dropping the VSS Unity spaceplane.
After Unity rockets up to 54 miles, it glides back to land on the same runway. The whole trip usually takes about 90 minutes, start to finish.
Governor Bill Richardson pushed hard for Spaceport America, helping New Mexico become a leader in commercial spaceflight. The New Mexico Spaceport Authority runs the facility and handles all the tenant details.
The spaceport’s location between Las Cruces and White Sands Missile Range gives it access to restricted airspace, which is crucial for safe launches. The desert climate brings clear weather and little air traffic—definitely a bonus.
New Mexico’s investment shows its commitment to aerospace innovation, not just military projects. Even with Virgin Galactic on pause, Spaceport America keeps drawing new aerospace companies.
The state’s bet on commercial spaceflight infrastructure puts it in a strong spot for long-term growth in space tourism. Spaceport America is setting an example for other states looking to get into commercial space launches.
Virgin Galactic flies a one-of-a-kind air-launched spaceflight system. It’s all built around the VSS Unity spaceplane and the VMS Eve carrier aircraft. Their Delta-class spacecraft are the next step, designed for regular passenger flights.
VSS Unity is Virgin Galactic’s main passenger spaceplane. This SpaceShipTwo vehicle finished plenty of test flights before starting commercial service.
Unity carries six passengers and two pilots on suborbital trips. The spaceplane launches from VMS Eve at 50,000 feet and then fires its rocket motor.
Key Specs:
Unity’s cabin has big windows for epic space views. Passengers get a few minutes of weightlessness on each flight.
The vehicle uses a feathering system for reentry. This rotates the tail upward, helping keep the descent stable.
VMS Eve works as Virgin Galactic’s WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft. This twin-fuselage mothership hauls SpaceShipTwo vehicles up to launch altitude.
The plane takes off from regular runways at Spaceport America. Eve climbs to 50,000 feet while carrying the attached spaceplane.
Technical Details:
Eve drops the spaceplane at the best point for rocket ignition. The carrier then heads back to base while the spaceplane rockets on toward space.
SpaceShipTwo is Virgin Galactic’s passenger spaceplane. These vehicles blend airplane and spacecraft features in one.
A hybrid rocket motor powers the spaceplane. It burns solid fuel mixed with nitrous oxide to reach suborbital space.
Passengers on SpaceShipTwo feel up to 3.5 g’s during the climb. The craft soars above 80 kilometers, crossing into space by most definitions.
Flight Profile:
Virgin Galactic plans to swap out the current SpaceShipTwo fleet for new Delta-class ships. These updated vehicles aim for weekly flights starting in 2026.
WhiteKnightTwo acts as Virgin Galactic’s custom carrier aircraft. Its twin-fuselage setup gives SpaceShipTwo an aerial launch platform.
The plane has two cockpits joined by a central wing. SpaceShipTwo rides between the fuselages up to launch altitude.
WhiteKnightTwo pilots work closely with the spaceplane crew during ascent. They keep the aircraft steady for a clean separation every time.
Operational Features:
Once it drops off its payload, WhiteKnightTwo heads back to Spaceport America. When operations ramp up, it can fly several missions per day.
Virgin Galactic relies on experienced test pilots and spaceflight commanders to lead its missions. The company has flown private astronauts from all walks of life, like Olympic athletes and Caribbean pioneers. They also team up with international military aviation programs.
Veteran test pilots and spaceflight commanders drive Virgin Galactic’s operations. Dave Mackay serves as chief pilot, bringing years of test pilot experience.
Michael Masucci leads VSS Unity missions as pilot-in-command.
C.J. Sturckow runs the pilot training program. Before joining Virgin Galactic, he flew Space Shuttle missions for NASA.
Kelly Latimer and Jameel Janjua pilot the WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft, handling the mothership that brings VSS Unity up for launch.
Andy Edgell takes on flight test engineer and backup pilot roles. The pilot team includes ex-military aviators and civilian test pilots who meet strict flight hour requirements.
Each mission needs two pilots in VSS Unity and two more in the carrier aircraft. Virgin Galactic keeps pilot certification current with the FAA’s commercial space transportation office.
Virgin Galactic has carried several trailblazing private astronauts since it kicked off commercial flights. Jon Goodwin became the second person with Parkinson’s to reach space, flying on Galactic 02 at age 80.
Keisha Schahaff and her daughter Anastatia Mayers set records as the first Caribbean astronauts and the first mother-daughter pair to fly together. They won their seats through a Space for Humanity fundraiser.
Galactic 02 hit a few milestones, too. It brought the first Olympic athlete to space and flew the second youngest person to reach space at the time.
Virgin Galactic’s Future Astronaut group now spans over 60 countries. Researchers have joined flights to run microgravity experiments alongside paying passengers.
Recent missions have flown both solo travelers and groups of three private astronauts. This mix shows Virgin Galactic’s push to open space to more than just traditional astronauts.
Virgin Galactic teams up with the Italian Air Force for research missions and pilot training. Colonel Nicola Pecile flew as a mission specialist for the Italian Air Force’s space operations division.
These joint missions focus on microgravity research and pilot development. The Italian Air Force runs experiments during suborbital flights that boost their aerospace research.
Italian military pilots get hands-on spaceflight experience, while Virgin Galactic benefits from their aviation skills. Colonel Pecile’s mission highlighted global teamwork in commercial spaceflight.
Virgin Galactic’s work with the Italian Air Force is just one of several international partnerships. These collaborations help push commercial spaceflight as a platform for science and military pilot training.
The company keeps building relationships with global aviation organizations to grow crew training and research opportunities on suborbital flights.
Virgin Galactic’s suborbital flights hit around 88.5 kilometers in altitude using the VSS Unity spaceplane. The ride features an air-launched profile, weightlessness periods, and ticket prices that start at $450,000 per seat.
The suborbital journey kicks off with the VMS Eve mothership carrying VSS Unity up to 50,000 feet. This dual-aircraft system takes off from Spaceport America in New Mexico, usually in the morning.
Unity drops from the mothership around 11:17 a.m. Eastern on most missions. Then it fires its hybrid rocket motor for about 60 seconds.
Passengers feel the g-forces ramp up as Unity climbs toward space. The spaceplane tops out at about 88.5 kilometers above Earth, crossing the official space boundary.
After peak altitude, Unity glides back down without power and lands on the runway. The whole trip, from takeoff to landing, lasts about 72 minutes. Landing usually wraps up by 11:32 a.m. Eastern.
At peak altitude, passengers get 3-4 minutes of weightlessness. They float around Unity’s cabin and can see Earth’s curve through big windows.
The cabin fits four passengers and one Virgin Galactic crew member. Each person gets a seat and some personal space to enjoy zero gravity.
Human-tended experiments take place on research missions like the Italian Air Force’s Galactic 01 flight. These missions bring a dozen or more scientific instruments, and trained researchers operate them during the microgravity phase.
Commercial passengers can bring small personal items for their zero-g moments. The company gives safety briefings and tips for making the most of weightlessness. Most folks snap plenty of photos and videos to remember the trip.
Virgin Galactic ticket prices have climbed from $200,000 in 2005 to $450,000 today. There’s a backlog of about 800 customers, including some who bought tickets nearly 20 years ago.
Current flights bring in around $600,000 per mission with three paying passengers. In 2024, Virgin Galactic plans to add a fourth customer per flight, bumping revenue to about $800,000 per trip.
The journey starts with buying a ticket and continues through pre-flight training at Virgin Galactic’s facilities. Passengers go through medical checks and safety briefings before their flight.
Monthly flight schedules help Virgin Galactic move through its customer list. The Galactic 02 mission in August 2023 was the first commercial space tourism flight, flying passengers like 80-year-old Jon Goodwin and the mother-daughter team from Antigua and Barbuda.
Virgin Galactic has carved out a spot as a leader in commercial space research, thanks to partnerships with big institutions and new microgravity experiments. The company’s Delta-Class spaceships act as advanced research labs, making space-based testing more accessible and affordable.
Virgin Galactic keeps active collaborations going with NASA and top universities to push space science forward. They work with Purdue University on several research projects that use suborbital flights.
These partnerships focus on new technologies for future deep space missions. Research on Virgin Galactic flights helps prep experiments for lunar and Martian exploration.
Spaceport America houses the company’s main operations, offering training facilities and prep labs. This setup lets university researchers get hands-on with their experiments before and after flights.
Virgin Galactic has flown seven research missions, carrying dozens of scientific payloads. These flights show the platform works for both academic and government programs.
Virgin Galactic’s research covers a lot of ground, with studies that matter for space exploration. Biologists look at how plant genes react to microgravity.
Medical device research checks out surgical options in zero gravity—something future astronauts might really need.
Propellant slosh experiments study how fluids move in low gravity. That helps engineers design life-support and propulsion systems for spacecraft.
Physical science teams test how renewable biofuels burn in microgravity. The results could lead to better propulsion for future missions.
Some custom experiments track how spaceflight affects the human body, like changes in brain pressure or vision. This info helps keep astronauts safer.
Virgin Galactic works with Redwire Corporation to build advanced research lockers for Delta-Class ships. These lockers support 3D printing and plug-and-play experiments, with real-time data streaming.
Each Delta-Class spaceship fits five payload racks, holding up to 20 research lockers. The system handles both fully automated and hands-on experiments.
The new platform matches International Space Station locker standards, so researchers can move experiments from suborbital to orbital flights with less hassle and cost.
Redwire brings decades of experience to the table, running 10 research facilities on the ISS right now.
Virgin Galactic plans to launch its first Delta-Class ships in 2026. These vehicles should offer a big leap in microgravity research compared to older designs.
Virgin Galactic hit several historic milestones with three key missions that shaped its commercial space tourism program. These flights brought Italian researchers and private astronauts to space and marked the end of the road for VSS Unity.
Virgin Galactic launched its first commercial spaceflight, Galactic 01, in June 2023. The VSS Unity spacecraft carried three Italian researchers on a suborbital ride to the edge of space.
Colonel Walter Villadei from the Italian Air Force and two researchers from Italy’s National Research Council flew on this mission. They ran scientific experiments during their brief weightless window above 50 miles up.
Flight Details:
This mission marked Virgin Galactic’s shift from test flights to real commercial operations. Italian military funding supported the research, making it different from the usual space tourism flights.
The crew spent several minutes weightless while working on their science. After VMS Eve released Unity at 50,000 feet, the spaceplane fired its rocket motor for the final push into space.
Galactic 06 took off in August 2023, marking Virgin Galactic’s first mission with private, paying customers on board. This flight brought three passengers into space—folks who bought tickets for the thrill of space tourism, not for research.
Notable Passengers:
Back in 2005, Goodwin bought his ticket for $200,000. He waited 18 years for his chance to fly, which honestly takes a lot of patience and belief in the project.
Schahaff and her daughter scored their seats through a sweepstakes fundraiser. Mayers, at just 18, became one of the youngest people ever to reach space on a commercial flight.
Everyone on board got to float in weightlessness for a bit and see the curve of Earth. The flight showed that space tourism can work for people of different ages and physical conditions.
Galactic 07 marked the last commercial flight for the VSS Unity spacecraft before Virgin Galactic paused operations in June 2024. Virgin Galactic decided to stop flights while they build a new generation of space planes.
This mission wrapped up VSS Unity’s career after seven trips to space since 2018. During its run, Unity carried Richard Branson, Italian researchers, and private astronauts.
Virgin Galactic made the call to focus on better spacecraft technology. The new vehicles will still launch from Spaceport America in New Mexico and keep the suborbital tourism going.
Current Status:
About 800 customers are still waiting for their chance, and tickets now cost $450,000 each. Virgin Galactic says they’ll resume monthly flights once the next-generation spacecraft pass all the tests and get certified.
Virgin Galactic operates under close Federal Aviation Administration oversight. They keep up with safety protocols and follow all the commercial spaceflight licensing rules. The company works alongside regulators to keep passengers safe and operations compliant.
The Federal Aviation Administration’s Office of Commercial Space Transportation oversees Virgin Galactic’s flights. Their framework makes sure every flight meets strict safety standards before anyone steps on board.
Virgin Galactic holds License LRLO 16-092, which lets them fly reusable launch vehicles like SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnightTwo. The FAA approves operations at both Mojave Air and Space Port and Spaceport America.
The FAA reviews Virgin Galactic’s system design, safety analysis, and flight planning. These checks cover the spacecraft’s performance and emergency procedures.
Virgin Galactic became the first commercial spaceline to get FAA certification for carrying passengers. That approval came after years of testing and verification.
Virgin Galactic keeps its commercial space transportation license by staying in line with FAA rules. They’ve held this license since 2016 and update it as things change.
The licensing process means Virgin Galactic has to prove operational safety through lots of testing. Every mission has to stick to flight parameters and safety guidelines set during approval.
Key licensing requirements include:
Virgin Galactic sends regular reports to regulators and takes part in ongoing talks about commercial spaceflight standards. They stay involved with any proposed rule changes in the industry.
Virgin Galactic uses detailed safety protocols for every part of their operations. These cover everything from pre-flight prep to in-flight procedures and post-flight checks.
If something goes wrong or there’s a technical issue, the company reports it to the FAA right away. They stick to established timelines for these notifications.
Safety measures include redundant systems and abort options that the crew can use at any point. Crew members train extensively for emergencies and passenger safety.
After any incident, Virgin Galactic and the FAA hold joint reviews. These investigations help raise safety standards and improve procedures across the industry.
Virgin Galactic competes in a busy space tourism market with other aerospace companies. They go head-to-head with SpaceX and Blue Origin for customers, but also work with aerospace firms and research groups.
SpaceX sits at the top of the commercial space industry with Crew Dragon and Falcon 9. In 2024, SpaceX pulled in $13.1 billion in revenue—Virgin Galactic made $7 million. SpaceX offers orbital flights to the International Space Station that last days.
Blue Origin is Virgin Galactic’s main rival in suborbital tourism, using its New Shepard vehicle. Jeff Bezos founded Blue Origin, and they target the same customers as Virgin Galactic.
Boeing is in the space game too, with its Starliner program. But Boeing mostly focuses on NASA contracts and crew transport, not tourism.
Virgin Galactic employs 805 people, while SpaceX has over 16,000. That gap shows just how big SpaceX’s scope is—they handle satellites and government work, not just tourism.
Virgin Galactic partners with NASA for research missions and microgravity experiments. These deals bring in extra revenue beyond just tourism.
They also work with aerospace suppliers for spacecraft parts and systems. These partnerships help keep quality high and costs lower.
Virgin Galactic teams up with spaceport operators, especially Spaceport America in New Mexico. This partnership gives them the infrastructure they need for safe operations.
Research institutions use Virgin Galactic flights for scientific experiments. Universities and agencies run studies on microgravity and space tech during these missions.
Virgin Galactic aims for the premium space tourism market, offering suborbital flights at about $450,000 per seat. They pitch their trips as more accessible than orbital flights.
The company’s market value is $220.5 million, which shows investors believe space tourism will grow. Still, that’s much lower than SpaceX’s $150 billion valuation.
Virgin Galactic leans hard on safety and the passenger experience. They highlight their pilot-controlled spacecraft—unlike the automated systems competitors use.
They serve people who want a taste of space without months of astronaut training. This appeals to wealthy folks who want the experience but not the commitment.
Virgin Galactic is working on new Delta Class spaceships that will carry more people and fly more often. They plan to start commercial flights with these ships by fall 2026.
Virgin Galactic keeps making progress on the Delta Class. They expect to finish the wing assembly by late 2025.
Construction teams are busy with the feather assembly system. This system helps the ship stay stable during reentry. The feather design adds safety for everyone on board.
They plan to finish building the Delta Class fuselage by late 2025 or early 2026. Final assembly happens at their facility near Phoenix, Arizona.
The Delta Class holds 6 passengers and 2 crew—more than VSS Unity. The new design focuses on reusability and easier maintenance.
Virgin Galactic wants to start flight tests in early 2026. They’ll begin commercial flights in the fall, and ticket sales will open again at the start of 2026.
Delta Class ships can fly 8 missions a month—way more than the old spacecraft could handle.
Each Delta Class ship can carry 12 times more passengers each month compared to VSS Unity. They can relaunch every three days, so the flight numbers really add up.
With this pace, each Delta Class ship can take 750 people to space per year. Frequent flights make space tourism more available to customers.
Virgin Galactic built these systems for regular use. The Delta Class can handle lots of flights without big repairs in between.
Virgin Galactic used to sell Delta seats for around $600,000 each. They plan to raise prices when sales resume in 2026.
The business model relies on the Delta Class being reliable and affordable to run. Virgin Galactic wants to turn a profit by flying often.
They’re also looking at a second spaceport in Italy and working with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to use their mothership for launching other spacecraft.
Virgin Galactic plans to offer both research flights and trips for private astronauts. Government and defense customers might use their services too.
Virgin Galactic calls itself America’s top commercial spaceline, offering suborbital flights through the Galactic Voyager program that launched in January 2025. Customers get to feel weightlessness and see Earth from space in the company’s SpaceShipTwo, which comes with advanced safety features.
A ticket on Virgin Galactic costs about $450,000 for a suborbital flight. They’ve tried to keep costs lower than orbital flight options.
The price covers full astronaut training and prep. Customers get instruction from experienced pros before their flight.
Training includes cabin familiarization and learning about the flight path. Participants also get briefed on Virgin Galactic’s procedures and safety steps.
Virgin Galactic hasn’t released specific dates for public booking yet. The Galactic Voyager program started commercial flights in January 2025.
Flight schedules depend on weather and operational readiness. All flights launch from Spaceport America in New Mexico.
Customers get plenty of notice about their flight dates. Virgin Galactic coordinates with mission teams and crews for each launch.
Virgin Galactic kicked off the Galactic Voyager suborbital program in January 2025. This program aims to make space tourism more accessible to regular folks.
The company keeps working on its spaceflight services for research too. Virgin Galactic offers flights for educational and scientific missions as well as tourism.
They’re also expanding their fleet operations. The goal is to run multiple SpaceShipTwo vehicles and boost flight capacity.
Richard Branson’s Virgin Group still owns Virgin Galactic. The company operates as Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc., trading under the symbol SPCE.
Virgin Galactic remains part of Branson’s aerospace ventures. He started the company to compete with other space tourism outfits like Blue Origin.
They keep their operation vertically integrated—Virgin Galactic designs and runs both the spacecraft and the carrier aircraft.
SpaceShipTwo uses a hybrid rocket motor to reach suborbital altitudes. The spacecraft has a feathering system that rotates the tail for safe reentry.
Virgin Mothership Eve acts as the carrier for SpaceShipTwo. It’s a four-engine, dual-fuselage aircraft built for high-altitude payloads.
The mothership drops SpaceShipTwo at about 50,000 feet. Then the rocket motor fires, sending passengers to the edge of space for a few minutes of weightlessness.
SpaceShipTwo’s cabin fits multiple passengers and crew. During the weightless part of the flight, passengers can unbuckle and float around.
Virgin Galactic kicked off commercial operations with the Galactic Voyager program in January 2025.
This move marked their shift from just test flights to actually flying regular folks to space.
These first commercial flights let passengers feel weightless for a few minutes and catch jaw-dropping views of Earth from space.
People on board reach suborbital heights, enough to really get that overview effect and spot the planet’s curve with their own eyes.
Before anyone even steps onto the spaceship, they go through hands-on pre-flight training at Virgin Galactic’s facilities.
Passengers spend time working directly with mission ops teams, pilots, and engineers to prep for the big moment.
All of this happens out at Spaceport America in New Mexico.
Virgin Galactic proudly calls itself the world’s first commercial spaceline to offer regular passenger flights.
