Virgin Galactic's Comeback: Inside the Delta-Class Spaceships
No flights since June 2024. A new spaceship named Apeiron has just arrived in New Mexico. What the Delta class promises, and when.
MAN TARGET EditorsOctober 29, 2026 4 min read
Virgin Galactic sold the dream of space tourism earlier and louder than anyone. Then, in June 2024, it grounded itself on purpose. VSS Unity flew its last mission, Galactic 07, its 12th trip to space, and the company bet its future on a new generation of ships built to fly far more often. Two years later, that bet is finally becoming hardware.
Meet Apeiron
On 28 October 2026, Virgin Galactic unveiled Apeiron, the first Delta-class spaceship, and flew it from its factory in Mesa, Arizona, to Spaceport America in New Mexico. The name, from the Greek for boundless, won a public vote among four finalists. Each Delta ship seats up to six passengers. Like Unity, it is carried aloft under a mothership, released at altitude and then fires its rocket motor towards the edge of space. The difference is cadence: each Delta ship is planned to fly up to eight times a month in regular operation, far beyond anything Unity achieved.
The timeline, honestly
- June 2024: Galactic 07, the final flight of VSS Unity.
- August 2026: the first commercial Delta flight moves from late 2026 to February 2027 to finish avionics and systems work.
- October 2026: Apeiron arrives in New Mexico for software validation, then captive-carry flights, glide tests and powered flights.
- 2027: the company now hopes to resume customer flights around mid-year, with a second ship joining Apeiron.
In spaceflight, the date on the slide is a wish. The date in the flight log is the fact.
What it means if you hold, or want, a ticket
About 675 future astronauts held reservations as of 30 June 2026, according to the company's filings. In March 2026 Virgin Galactic released a limited number of seats at US$750,000 each; in August it said that price had been retired and the next tranche would be priced higher, without naming a figure. The stated goal is ten or more spaceflights a month once two ships are in service. That rate, not the first flight, is what would make the business work. For now, it remains a target, not a track record.
Before you sign
- Ask for deposit, refund and delay terms in writing before you pay.
- Expect medical screening and pre-flight training at Spaceport America.
- Treat every date as a target until powered test flights are complete.
- Compare with orbital options, which differ in duration, training and price class.
- Book flexible travel to New Mexico: flight days can move at short notice.
Key takeaways
- Virgin Galactic has not flown to space since Galactic 07 in June 2024.
- The first Delta-class ship, Apeiron, was unveiled on 28 October 2026.
- Commercial service has slipped into 2027; flight tests come first.
- The last published seat price was US$750,000, and the company says the next tranche will cost more.
FAQ
When will Virgin Galactic fly again?
The company is targeting a return to commercial flights in 2027, after Apeiron completes captive-carry, glide and powered test flights.
How much is a Virgin Galactic ticket?
The last published price was US$750,000 per seat, in March 2026. The company says the next tranche will cost more.
How many people fly on a Delta-class ship?
Up to six passengers per flight, carried to altitude under a mothership before the rocket motor fires.
Thinking about a seat? The Man Target concierge can help you compare operators and the questions to ask before you sign.
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