Virgin Galactic pushes debut of its next-gen spacecraft to early 2027

Virgin Galactic confirmed that the inaugural commercial mission of its upcoming Delta-class spaceship will be delayed until at least February 2027. The delay follows the discovery of hundreds of minor yet critical installation discrepancies, such as components being a few thousandths of an inch off their intended dimensions. CEO Michael Colglazier explained that correcting these issues will ensure the vehicle meets safety and performance standards.

The company plans to commence ground testing later this month and has already booked over 50 seats at $750,000 each, generating more than $50 million in reservations. Despite the setback, a second next-generation ship is already in production and is projected to enter commercial service in the second quarter of 2027. Virgin Galactic aims to operate ten flights per month by the end of that quarter. A public poll is currently open for naming the unnamed spacecraft, offering four options: Horizon, Explorer, Ascend, and Apeiron.