Key Highlights

  • The lead Delta class Spaceship is set to fly to Spaceport America, New Mexico on October 28.
  • The lead Spaceship's first commercial spaceflight is now expected in early Q2 2027.
  • The second Spaceship is expected to begin commercial operations in late Q2 or early Q3 2027.
  • More than 100 members of the astronaut community are moving into their first phase of readiness.

Virgin Galactic (NYSE:SPCE) said on October 26, 2026 that the lead Spaceship of its next-generation fleet is set to fly to its operations base at Spaceport America, New Mexico, on October 28. The Spaceship, mated to launch vehicle Eve for a captive-carry flight, will depart the company's Spaceship Factory in Mesa, Arizona. According to the company, the arrival marks the transition from vehicle assembly to the start of flight test preparations.

Name Reveal and Arrival Plans

Earlier that day, Virgin Galactic will reveal the Spaceship's name, which was chosen by public vote with participants from more than 80 countries from a shortlist developed by company teammates and members of its astronaut community. Pending weather and technical readiness, the company plans to share live updates from the flight across its social media channels.

Updated 2027 Timeline

Virgin Galactic now expects the lead Spaceship's first commercial spaceflight in early Q2 2027 and the second Spaceship to begin commercial spaceflight operations in late Q2 or early Q3 2027. The company said the updated timeline reflects additional time for completing avionics software integration and validation, which uses an exhaustive testing process. That testing will conclude at Spaceport America as the lead Spaceship is readied for its flight test series.

With two-ship commercial operations expected by early Q3 2027, the company is moving more than 100 members of its astronaut community into their first phase of readiness and preparation, with additional cohorts expected to follow on a rolling basis. Work at the Spaceship Factory now shifts to completing the structural test assembly of the wing and fuselage, finishing assembly of the second Spaceship and preparing the rocket motor assembly line. Structural testing of the feather assembly has already been completed.

Why This Could Matter

The announcement sets out where the Delta class program stands and the sequence of steps the company has described. Virgin Galactic said it plans to provide further detail on upcoming flight tests and its financial outlook during its third quarter earnings call in November. For shareholders, that call is the stated venue for additional information on testing and financial expectations, since this release contains no financial figures.

Final Perspective

Virgin Galactic has scheduled the lead Delta class Spaceship's move to Spaceport America for October 28, updated its commercial spaceflight timing to early Q2 2027 for the first ship and late Q2 or early Q3 2027 for the second, and begun readiness work for more than 100 astronauts.