Virgin Galactic

Learn more about Virgin Galactic's plan to make space tourism and personal space travel a reality with SpaceShipTwo.

Related Topics: Space Tourism, SpaceX, NASA Space Launch System

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Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson soars like Superman while in weightlessness during his Unity 22 launch on the SpaceShipTwo VSS Unity on July 11, 2021.

Virgin Galactic pushes 1st planned commercial passenger flight to 2023

By Elizabeth Howell published

Aspiring space tourists will need to wait a little longer before soaring into suborbital space with Virgin Galactic.

A view of Earth from Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo VSS Unity during the Unity 22 flight on July 11, 2021.

Virgin Galactic plans to start flying paying customers this year

By Mike Wall published

Virgin Galactic's suborbital spaceliner is grounded at the moment, but the company is confident it'll be fully up and running by the end of the year.

Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson soars like Superman while in weightlessness during his Unity 22 launch on the SpaceShipTwo VSS Unity on July 11, 2021.

Virgin Galactic is reopening space tourist ticket sales for a limited time

By Elizabeth Howell published

Starting Wednesday (Feb. 16), aspiring space tourists can once again book a trip to the final frontier with Virgin Galactic.

The Inspiration4 crew poses for a selfie in the Crew Dragon cupola.

FAA ending commercial astronaut wings program as more people reach space

By Elizabeth Howell published

The 17-year-old program met its goal in raising awareness and the names will still be listed online, the agency said.

From left, Omaze CEO and co-founder Matt Pohlson, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, Omaze winner Keisha S., and Space for Humanity Executive Director Rachel Lyons congratulate Keisha at her home in Antigua.

Virgin Galactic announces winner of free trip to suborbital space

By Mike Wall published

Keisha S., a health and energy coach from the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda, just won a free trip to suborbital space with Virgin Galactic.

Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson soars like Superman while in weightlessness during his Unity 22 launch on the SpaceShipTwo VSS Unity on July 11, 2021.

Virgin Galactic sells 100 new tickets for space tourist launches

By Mike Wall published

About 100 people have bought a ticket to ride to suborbital space since Virgin Galactic reopened sales in August, at $450,000 apiece.

Elon Musk says SpaceX's Falcon 9 reusability is key to success in the new documentary "Space Titans."

'Space Titans' goes inside a billionaires' space race on Discovery+ (exclusive clip)

By Elizabeth Howell published

In "Space Titans," a new documentary launching today (Nov. 4), SpaceX founder Elon Musk shares the secret of his company's Falcon 9 rocket success.

An up-close look at VSS Unity's rocket motor in action during the vehicle's most recent spaceflight, which occurred on July 11, 2021.

Virgin Galactic delays next crewed space launch to 2022

By Mike Wall published

Virgin Galactic won't fly another crewed space mission this year after all.

A Saturday Nigh Live sketch starring Owen Wilson spooks Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos and other space billionaires.

SNL spoofs Jeff Bezos, Blue Origin and space billionaires with 'Star Trek' skit

By Elizabeth Howell published

It stars Owen Wilson as a cowboy-hatted Jeff Bezos.

Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson soars like Superman while in weightlessness during his Unity 22 launch on the SpaceShipTwo VSS Unity on July 11, 2021.

FAA clears Virgin Galactic to start flying again

By Mike Wall published

The Federal Aviation Administration has wrapped up its six-week inquiry into the July 11 test flight of Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity space plane.

SpaceX's all-civilian Inspiration4 astronauts are all smiles after splashing down in the Atlantic Ocean to end their historic three-day trip to orbit on the Crew Dragon Resilience.

Do space tourists really understand the risk they're taking?

By Tereza Pultarova published

Space tourism vehicles are probably the only technology with the potential to kill humans that doesn't need to undergo independent safety certification. Is that a good idea?

An up-close look at VSS Unity's rocket motor in action during the space plane's suborbital test flight on July 11, 2021.

Virgin Galactic delays next spaceflight to investigate possible component defect

By Mike Wall published

Virgin Galactic has pushed its next mission back a bit to investigate a possible manufacturing defect that might affect its VSS Unity space plane.

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo VSS Unity launches billionaire Richard Branson and a crew of five others to suborbital space and back in a flight from Spaceport America, New Mexico on July 11, 2021.

Virgin Galactic announces crew for next launch to suborbital space

By Mike Wall published

Unity 23 will carry Italian Air Force Col. Walter Villadei and Lt. Col. Angelo Landolfi, as well as aerospace engineer Pantaleone Carlucci, a scientist with the Italian National Research Council.

Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson soars like Superman while in weightlessness during his Unity 22 launch on the SpaceShipTwo VSS Unity on July 11, 2021.

Pilots saw 'red light' warning during Virgin Galactic's historic spaceflight with Richard Branson: report

By Hanneke Weitering published

It may not have gone as smoothly as we thought.

Blue Origin’s New Shepard lifts-off from the launch pad carrying Jeff Bezos along with his brother Mark Bezos, 18-year-old Oliver Daemen, and 82-year-old Wally Funk on July 20, 2021 in Van Horn, Texas.

Space travel for billionaires is the surprise topic with bipartisan American support — but not from Gen Z

By Joseph Cabosky published

With Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson both flying to space in craft made by their own private companies, July 2021 was perhaps the highest-profile month for space in years.

Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson soars like Superman while in weightlessness during his spaceflight on Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity on July 11, 2021.

Virgin Galactic is selling tickets to space again, now for $450,000 per seat

By Mike Wall published

Virgin Galactic has started selling seats on its suborbital spaceliner again — but the price has gone up.

The passengers of Blue Origin's first crewed spaceflight may no longer be eligible to receive the FAA's commercial astronaut wings. From left: physics student Oliver Daemen, Mercury 13 aviator Wally Funk, Amazon and Blue Origin billionaire founder Jeff Bezos, and venture capitalist Mark Bezos (brother of Jeff).

New FAA rules change who qualifies for commercial astronaut wings

By Chelsea Gohd published

The Federal Aviation Administration has changed their qualifications for commercial astronaut wings, and Blue Origin's first flight crew might no longer be eligible.

Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket shortly after liftoff during its first flight with a human crew, on July 20, 2021.

Oregon congressman proposes new space tourism tax

By Mike Wall published

U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon) plans to introduce legislation called the Securing Protections Against Carbon Emissions Tax Act, which would impose new excise taxes on space tourism trips.

Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo VSS Unity launches billionaire Richard Branson and a crew of five others to suborbital space and back in a flight from Spaceport America, New Mexico on July 11, 2021.

In photos: Virgin Galactic's 1st fully crewed spaceflight with billionaire Richard Branson

By Space.com Staff published

Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson rides a bike to Spaceport America ahead of his launch on the Unity 22 mission on July 11, 2021.

Video of Richard Branson's desert bike ride was recorded before Unity 22 launch day, Virgin Galactic clarifies

By Elizabeth Howell published

A Virgin Galactic video of founder Richard Branson's bike ride ahead of his launch into space on the company's Unity 22 flight in New Mexico this week was actually recorded earlier.