Virgin Galactic Flies First Delta-Class Spaceplane, Plots Return in 2027

Virgin Galactic has successfully flown its inaugural Delta-class spaceplane, marking a significant milestone in the company's pursuit of suborbital space tourism. The test flight occurred on November 6th, 2023, at Spaceport America in New Mexico. This particular aircraft is designated as ‘Apeiron,’ and it represents Virgin Galactic’s latest iteration of their spacecraft design. Executives anticipate commencing initial commercial operations with the ‘Apeiron’ vehicle during the first half of 2027. The company projects a return to routine flights around late 2027 following planned upgrades and testing.