Virgin Galactic recently unveiled the design for its new Delta class spaceship in a video released on August 7. The Delta design is described as sleek and modular, with components that aim to improve efficiency in human spaceflight. The company is building the new Delta ships to have a turnaround time of just three days, a significant improvement over its previous spaceship, VSS Unity, which could only fly once a month.
The new Delta spacecraft will be powered by a hybrid rocket system and will accommodate six passengers, an increase from the previous capacity of four. While the first flight of the Delta is not expected until 2026, progress on the design work is moving forward quickly. Virgin Galactic’s CEO, Michael Colglazier, stated that the design completion is accelerating, and production of the spacecraft is on track for commercial service in 2026.
The company plans to generate revenue of $450 million per year once the first two Delta spaceships enter service. Additionally, Virgin Galactic envisions having up to five ships at spaceports around the world in the future. The completion of a new Delta space plane manufacturing facility in Mesa, Arizona in July marked a significant milestone in the company’s plans for the new generation spaceship.
As Virgin Galactic focuses on its Delta class spaceship, the final flight of the VSS Unity took place in June. The company is confident in the progress of the Delta program and is looking forward to entering commercial service in the coming years. Stay updated on the latest space news, rocket launches, and skywatching events by joining our Space Forums. If you have any news tips or comments, feel free to reach out to us at community@space.com.
Andrew, a freelance space journalist, has been reporting on China’s rapidly growing space sector since 2019. His work can be found in publications such as SpaceNews, IEEE Spectrum, National Geographic, and more. Andrew’s passion for space exploration began when he first saw Voyager images of other worlds in our solar system as a youngster. When he’s not writing about space, Andrew enjoys trail running in the forests of Finland. Follow him on Twitter @AJ_FI for more space-related updates.
