Abstract:
Virgin Galactic named its first new-generation Delta-class spacecraft "Apeiron". The name comes from ancient Greek, meaning "infinity" or "boundless". The company said the name was chosen by public votes from 83 countries and six continents, and was intended to reflect the imagination of space exploration.
On October 28, Apeiron carried the mothership aircraft Eve and performed a "backpack transition flight" from the spacecraft factory in Mesa, Arizona to Spaceport America in New Mexico. This trip is to transport the spacecraft to the operating base, not to fly powered or carry passengers into the air. After arrival, the engineering team will continue to complete the integration and verification of the avionics software before starting flight testing.
Virgin Galactic’s latest adjusted plan is that the first spacecraft is expected to launch its first commercial space flight at the beginning of the second quarter of 2027, and the second spacecraft is expected to begin commercial operations from the end of the second quarter to the beginning of the third quarter. The company had previously expected to resume commercial flights in February 2027, but this time it was postponed again because it needed more time to complete the integration and verification of avionics software. The company said more than 100 future passengers have begun the preparation process.
Apeiron is the first of Virgin Galactic’s new generation of Delta-class spacecraft, succeeding the retired VSS Unity. Unity completed its last commercial flight in June 2024, and the company has suspended passenger operations since then. Apeiron is still in the flight test preparation stage, and the company's commercial resumption schedule is still subject to adjustment.
Comments