● Covered by 2 sources · 2 reportsMedium impact1 negative1 neutral
Virgin Galactic Delays Delta Class Spaceship Commercial Flights to February 2027
Key points
- First commercial flight of Delta class spaceship delayed to February 2027.
- Delay attributed to "hundreds of relatively small but important installation tasks."
- Virgin Galactic is conducting a public poll to name the new vehicle.
- Delta class ships are designed for up to six passengers.
- The company halted SpaceShipTwo commercial flights in 2024 to focus on Delta development.
Commercial Flight Postponement
Virgin Galactic has announced a delay in the inaugural commercial flight of its next-generation "Delta class" spaceship. Originally slated for the fourth quarter of 2026, the first commercial mission is now scheduled for February 2027 at the earliest.
Michael Colglazier, Virgin Galactic's CEO, stated during an earnings call that the delay was not due to a single major issue but rather "hundreds of relatively small but important installation tasks" encountered during the vehicle's construction.
Focus on Next-Gen Vehicle
The company had previously ceased commercial flights of its SpaceShipTwo in 2024 after seven successful missions to concentrate on the development and assembly of the Delta class fleet. This new generation of spaceships is intended to expand Virgin Galactic's suborbital space tourism offerings.
Public Naming Initiative
In parallel with the development, Virgin Galactic has launched a public campaign to name its first Delta class spaceship, referred to as "Delta-1." The company is inviting the public to vote on one of four finalist names through its website, aiming to involve future customers and build anticipation for the new vehicle.
The structural assembly of "Delta-1" was completed earlier this year, and the vehicle was moved from its assembly hangar to a test and launch hangar in Arizona.
Delta Class Capabilities
Similar to SpaceShipTwo, the Delta class spaceships are designed to carry up to six people on suborbital flights. The new design incorporates streamlined manufacturing and maintenance processes, which are expected to support an increased flight rate once operational.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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How outlets covered it
Virgin Galactic is asking the public to vote on a name for its new Delta class spaceship, which is expected to begin commercial service in February 2027. This public naming initiative aims to engage future customers and build anticipation for the next generation of suborbital space tourism vehicles.
Virgin Galactic has postponed the first commercial flight of its new "Delta class" spaceship from late 2026 to February 2027 due to assembly issues. This delay impacts the company's timeline for expanding its suborbital space tourism operations.