Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Rollout from Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona.
Image credit: Virgin Galactic/Inside Outer Space screengrab

Virgin Galactic’s newly named spaceship Apeiron departed Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona early today mated to Eve, the company’s launch vehicle.

The vehicle combo landed at Spaceport America in New Mexico at 12:59 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time.

Pilot in Command Michael Masucci and Pilot Dan Alix flew Eve, with Flight Test Engineer Tori Crichton on board.

En route to New Mexico’s Spaceport America.
Image credit: Virgin Galactic

Commercial spaceflights are expected to begin in early quarter 2 next year.

Spaceport America in New Mexico is permanent home and base of operations for Virgin Galactic suborbital passenger flights.

Arrival at New Mexico’s Spaceport America.
Image credit: Virgin Galactic/Inside Outer Space screengrab

Spaceship factory

Virgin Galactic announced also that production of the fleet of Delta class suborbital vehicles is moving forward. At the group’s “Spaceship Factory,” assembly of the static test article and the second spaceship is underway, and teams are preparing the rocket motor assembly line.

“Designed to fly twice per week with a vehicle lifetime of more than 500 missions,” said Virgin Galactic in a press statement, “each spaceship in the next-generation fleet is built to support the economics of a scaled commercial operation, with increased flight cadence and a cost profile unprecedented in the industry.”

The second Delta-class spaceship is expected to begin commercial operations in late Q2/early Q3 2027.