"Virgin Galactic Unveils Six-Passenger Spaceship for High-Priced Tourist Spaceflights Next Summer"

Virgin Galactic’s Delta SpaceShip Nears Launch with $600K Tourist Flights
By Les Roopanarine | Published: 10:52 GMT, 1 March 2025 | Updated: 11:06 GMT, 1 March 2025

Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic is accelerating efforts to launch commercial space tourism, announcing plans to begin production next month on its new Delta SpaceShip. Test flights are slated for spring 2026, with public trips expected by summer 2026. The spacecraft, designed to carry six passengers—two more than its predecessor—will depart from New Mexico’s Spaceport America, though tickets will cost a staggering $600,000 (£477,000) each.

[Image caption: Virgin Galactic’s Delta SpaceShip undergoes assembly in Phoenix, Arizona. The spacecraft aims to begin test flights in 2026.]

The company, founded in 2004, faces a backlog of 700 customers awaiting suborbital flights. CEO Michael Colglazier remains optimistic, stating, “Our timeline remains on track… with the first private astronaut flight expected by fall 2026.” The Delta-class ships, modeled after the earlier VSS Unity spacecraft, aim to streamline testing by leveraging prior data.

[Image caption: Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Galactic, has pursued space tourism for over two decades despite technical and financial hurdles.]

Virgin Galactic’s journey has been fraught with setbacks, including a fatal 2007 rocket test explosion and a 2014 crash that killed a pilot. Despite these challenges, the company plans to scale operations to two weekly flights by early 2027. Competitors like Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and Elon Musk’s SpaceX continue to push rival programs, though Blue Origin recently announced layoffs affecting 1,400 employees.

[Image caption: The Gaia lounge at Spaceport America in New Mexico, where passengers will prepare for their cosmic journeys.]

With tickets priced at nearly half a million dollars, Virgin Galactic targets ultra-wealthy adventurers. Yet, the firm’s “new space age” vision hinges on overcoming past delays and delivering on its ambitious promises.

[Image caption: Aerial view of Virgin Galactic’s Gateway to Space facility in New Mexico, the launch site for future tourist flights.]

As production ramps up in Phoenix, Arizona, the world watches to see if Branson’s decades-long dream finally ascends to the stars—or remains grounded by reality.