5 publishers · first seen Wed, 28 Oct 2026 12:00 UTC · updated Sat, 31 Oct 2026 09:36 UTC
Virgin Galactic has delivered its first Delta-class space plane, named Apeiron, from its factory in Mesa, Arizona, to Spaceport America in New Mexico on October 28. The spacecraft, attached to the mothership VMS Eve, will undergo avionics software validation and flight testing before commercial operations begin in mid-2027. Apeiron, which means 'boundless' in ancient Greek, was named through a public vote involving participants from 83 countries. The Delta-class vehicles are designed for suborbital flights above the 100-kilometer Karman line, carrying up to six passengers per flight.
The new space plane replaces VSS Unity, which completed its final commercial flight in 2024 after seven missions. Virgin Galactic plans to fly each Delta-class vehicle up to eight times per month, with a design life of over 500 missions. A second Delta-class spacecraft is under construction and expected to enter service later in 2027. The company currently has around 675 ticket holders, with seat prices now at $850,000. Virgin Galactic's return to service comes as Blue Origin has paused its suborbital flights for at least two years.
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