Virgin Galactic is preparing to test its latest Delta spacecraft, aiming for a maiden flight in the summer of 2026. Founded by Sir Richard Branson in 2004, the company continues to push its space tourism ambitions, despite challenges and stiff competition.
Production of the Delta spacecraft is scheduled to begin in March, with promises of a faster turnaround between flights. The new model will accommodate up to six passengers, an increase from previous designs, but initial missions will carry only research cargo before private passengers are introduced later in 2026.
However, the cost remains a major barrier, with each ticket priced at around $600,000. Despite this, Virgin Galactic has a waiting list of approximately 700 customers, and the company expects to clear the backlog within a year once Delta is operational.
Virgin Galactic’s commercial spaceflight history has been mixed. It successfully completed its first commercial mission in June 2023 and has since conducted 12 flights. Operations were paused in mid-2024 to focus on the Delta program. Financially, the company reported $430,000 in revenue for the final quarter of last year, falling short of market expectations.
Virgin Galactic faces ongoing competition from other space tourism ventures. Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin recently resumed New Shepard rocket launches, while Elon Musk’s SpaceX continues to develop its own ambitious civilian space programs. As the race for space tourism intensifies, Virgin Galactic’s future will depend not only on technological advancements but also on market demand and economic viability.
