Spaceport America, New Mexico – Virgin Galactic successfully launched its VSS Unity spaceplane on its final suborbital flight on June 8, 2024. This mission, dubbed Galactic 07, represents a significant milestone for the company as it shifts focus towards the development of its next-generation Delta spacecraft.
Galactic 07 was Virgin Galactic’s seventh commercial flight and the twelfth overall for VSS Unity. The spacecraft carried six individuals, including Turkish astronaut Tuva Atasever and three space tourists. The flight reached an altitude of 54.4 miles (87.5 km), offering the passengers a unique view of Earth and several minutes of weightlessness before returning to Spaceport America.
Image credits: Virgin Galactic
Crew and Passengers
The crew for this historic mission included VSS Unity Commander Nicola Pecile and pilot Jameel Janjua. The VMS Eve, which carried Unity to its release altitude, was piloted by Andy Edgell and former NASA astronaut C.J. Sturckow. Among the passengers were Tuva Atasever from Turkey, who oversaw several experiments during the flight, and private astronauts Giorgio Manenti from Italy, Irving Pergament from California and Andy Sadhwani from New York.
Galactic 07 was not only a commercial flight but also a significant contributor to space research. The mission carried experiments from Purdue University, which studied propellant slosh in spacecraft fuel tanks, and a 3D printing project from UC Berkeley. These experiments highlight Virgin Galactic’s commitment to supporting scientific research through suborbital flights
Transition to Delta-Class Spacecraft
With the retirement of VSS Unity, Virgin Galactic will focus on the development and deployment of its Delta-class spacecraft, expected to enter service in 2026. These new spacecraft are designed to fly more frequently and carry more passengers, enhancing the company’s capability to support both space tourism and research missions. The Delta-class is anticipated to fly twice a week, compared to the monthly flights of Unity, significantly boosting revenue and operational efficiency.
Michael Colglazier, CEO of Virgin Galactic, stated, “Discovery and innovation are central to our mission. We’re excited to build on our successful record of facilitating scientific experiments in suborbital space, and we look forward to continuing to expand our role in suborbital research going forward”.
Tejpaul Bhatia, Chief Revenue Officer of Axiom Space, added, “Axiom Space’s commitment to enabling access to space and providing opportunities for scientific discovery beyond Earth aligns closely with Virgin Galactic’s mission. We are very excited about this upcoming Galactic 07 flight”.
Virgin Galactic’s strategic pivot to the Delta-class vehicles is a critical step in their long-term plan to make space travel more accessible and commercially viable. The company plans to begin test flights of the Delta spacecraft in 2025, with full commercial operations slated for 2026. This transition is expected to significantly increase the frequency and profitability of spaceflights, moving the company closer to achieving positive cash flow by mid-decade.
