Virgin Galactic Moves Apeiron to New Mexico
The company transports its first Delta-class spacecraft to Spaceport America for testing.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Space
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Virgin Galactic has transferred its newly named Delta-class spacecraft, Apeiron, from its Mesa, Arizona factory to Spaceport America in New Mexico. The vehicle will now undergo extensive ground and flight testing in preparation for commercial service.
Why it matters
This move marks a critical step toward resuming space tourism operations after a 10-month hiatus in the United States. Following the retirement of the VSS Unity, the success of the Delta-class fleet is vital for the company's long-term commercial goals.
Virgin Galactic completed the final suborbital flight of its VSS Unity spacecraft in June 2024. Apeiron will now undergo avionics and software installation followed by captive carry and drop tests.
The players
Virgin Galactic
This American spaceflight company is headquartered in California and focuses on developing commercial spacecraft to provide suborbital flights for space tourists.
SpaceX
Founded by Elon Musk, this aerospace company designs and manufactures advanced rockets and spacecraft for both orbital and suborbital missions.
Blue Origin
Owned by Jeff Bezos, this aerospace manufacturer and suborbital spaceflight services company operates the New Shepard vehicle.
The details
Engineers are moving the spacecraft using the VMS Eve carrier aircraft to facilitate testing at the New Mexico site. Future operations for the vehicle include ground tests and a drop test before moving on to powered suborbital flights.
Timeline
2021: Virgin Galactic stock reached a peak valuation of $1,118 per share.
June 2024: The company conducted the final suborbital flight of VSS Unity.
April 2025: SpaceX completed its final free-flyer Crew Dragon mission.
January 2026: Blue Origin paused its New Shepard space tourism program.
October 28, 2026: The spacecraft Apeiron was officially named and moved to New Mexico.
The Big Picture
The introduction of the Delta-class fleet represents a fundamental shift in the company's operational strategy following the final suborbital flight of VSS Unity. This transition replaces legacy hardware with a new design intended to enable higher flight frequencies.
The deployment of the Delta-class fleet aims to shorten the wait time for potential space tourists within the next 12 to 18 months. Successful testing and subsequent commercial flights could establish a new standard for suborbital accessibility.
The takeaway
Virgin Galactic's transition to the Delta-class fleet is essential for restoring its presence in the competitive space tourism market. Monitoring the progress of these upcoming flight tests will provide a clearer picture of the company's financial and operational recovery.
What happens next
Virgin Galactic expects the first commercial flight of the Apeiron spacecraft to occur in the second quarter of 2027.
Further reading
Find more updates on the future of commercial suborbital flight in our Space section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Ars Technica.
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