Virgin Galactic prepares to develop the next space glider after the launch of Galactic 06
Virgin Galactic plans to conduct its sixth commercial spaceflight this week. The window for launching the Galactic 06 passenger suborbital flight opens on January 26. The company released a mission sign to commemorate the upcoming event and attract public interest.
This mark symbolizes the Ukrainian, Austrian and American nationalities and shows the global experience of the Virgin Galactic team. Each pilot and astronaut is represented by a star symbol, with a central seven-pointed star representing the mountains and continents the crew members have conquered. The company officially unveiled the mark in a post in X on Monday, January 22.
Virgin Galactic announced that four private space travelers will travel on Galactic 06. It is not yet known who they are, and the identities of the passengers have not been revealed. In addition, it has not been officially announced whether the mission will be broadcast live.
The company uses an air launch system consisting of a VMS Eve carrier aircraft and a VSS Unity space glider. Eve takes off from the runway with Unity under its wings and releases the spacecraft at an altitude of about 13,700 meters. Unity then activates the built-in rocket engine to reach suborbital space.
Passengers aboard the space glider will be able to enjoy a few minutes of weightlessness and see the Earth against the vast blackness of space before returning to Earth. Virgin Galactic is currently offering seats on a six-passenger vessel for sale at $400,000 per seat.
If the mission is successfully completed, Galactic 06 will be one of the last flights of the Unity vessel. Virgin Galactic plans to focus on developing its new Delta class of space gliders. Company officials say each Delta spaceplane will be able to fly twice a week. The start of testing of this airframe is scheduled for next year, and commercial operation is planned for 2026.