Virgin Galactic Unveils Apeiron Spaceplane, Targets Resumption of Flights by Q2 2027

Introducing Virgin Galactic's Next-Generation Spaceplane: Apeiron

According to НВ — Техно: On October 30, 2023, Virgin Galactic revealed its latest spacecraft, Apeiron, which was transported from its Arizona manufacturing site to the operational hub in New Mexico. This milestone moves the company closer to restarting commercial suborbital space tourism flights, planned for the second quarter of 2027. Tickets for these 90-minute journeys will be priced at $750,000 each.

Key Features of Apeiron

Apeiron, classified as a Delta-class spaceplane, is set to replace the previous VSS Unity model. Larger than Unity, Apeiron accommodates six passengers instead of four and is designed to fly up to eight missions monthly, a significant increase from Unity’s one flight per month. The carrier aircraft, VMS Eve, will release Apeiron at about 13,500 meters altitude, enabling the spaceplane to reach a peak altitude of 87 kilometers-just shy of the internationally recognized space boundary at 100 kilometers. Passengers onboard will experience 3 to 4 minutes of weightlessness.

Virgin Galactic intends to transition over 100 ticket holders into the initial phase of flight readiness. Notably, VSS Unity completed seven suborbital missions between 2023 and 2024, with its last crewed flight landing in June 2024. Ticket pricing for Unity increased over time:

• $200,000 in 2005
• $450,000 in 2021
• $600,000 in 2024

In March 2024, Virgin Galactic announced the new ticket price of $750,000 for Apeiron flights.

Virgin Galactic CEO Michael Colglazier stated, "The second quarter has seen a major acceleration in design work and the start of equipment manufacturing."

The inaugural flight of the Apeiron Delta-class spaceplane is scheduled for 2026. Meanwhile, competitors like Blue Origin have paused their suborbital tourism flights for at least two years, potentially opening the door for Virgin Galactic to expand its market presence.

The introduction of Apeiron highlights the intensifying competition within the suborbital space tourism sector. With enhanced capabilities, Virgin Galactic aims to strengthen its position, especially as rivals halt operations temporarily. Resuming commercial flights by 2027 will be a critical test of the company’s business model amid growing demand for space travel. As ticket prices rise, delivering exceptional customer experience will be essential for maintaining a competitive edge.