Virgin Galactic Unveils Apeiron as First Delta-Class Suborbital Spaceplane and Begins Ferry Flight to Spaceport America
What happened
Virgin Galactic unveiled its first Delta-class spaceplane, named Apeiron via a global public vote across 83 countries, and completed its ferry flight to Spaceport America in New Mexico on October 28, 2026.
The Context
* Next-generation hardware: Apeiron succeeds the retired VSS Unity, carrying up to six passengers with upgraded thermal protection and streamlined maintenance designed to support higher flight rates. * Flight path to service: The vehicle transitioned from Mesa, Arizona, to New Mexico aboard the VMS Eve carrier aircraft to begin avionics validation, drop tests, and powered test flights. * Commercial timeline: Virgin Galactic is constructing a second Delta-class spaceplane in parallel, targeting commercial revenue operations for early Q2 2027.
The Number
The count of future astronaut reservations on Virgin Galactic's books as of June 30, 2026, representing approximately $203 million in backlog revenue awaiting the launch of Delta-class operations.
Takeaway
You can expect the next critical operational signals to emerge throughout 2027 as integrated avionics and powered drop tests determine whether the Delta-class fleet can hit its projected turnaround cadences.
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Meet Apeiron, Virgin Galactic's 1st 'Delta-class' space plane
Virgin Galactic has officially unveiled Apeiron, its first "Delta-class" space plane, and announced the results of a worldwide public vote that selected the vehicle's name. The reveal marks a visible milestone for the company's next-generation spaces...
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Here’s Virgin Galactic’s new Apeiron spaceship
Virgin Galactic has unveiled its new spaceship, Apeiron, named through a public poll; it is the first of the company's Delta-class spacecraft, but it is not slated to launch for nearly another year after the company announced another delay to its lau...
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Here’s Virgin Galactic’s new Apeiron spaceship
Virgin Galactic has unveiled its new spaceship, Apeiron, named through a public poll; it is the first of the company's Delta-class spacecraft, but it is not slated to launch for nearly another year after the company announced another delay to its lau...
Space science news, astronomy updates, and spaceflight developments.
"Space.com delivers space science news, astronomy updates, and spaceflight developments with engaging coverage."
— A47 Editor
Virgin Galactic is finally revealing its new Delta-class spaceship this week
Virgin Galactic will unveil its first Delta-class spaceship on Wednesday, October 28, revealing a name chosen through public vote, before transporting the vehicle from Arizona to Spaceport America in New Mexico.