Virgin Galactic is advancing the production of its new Delta class spaceships, targeting the start of commercial service in 2026. The company retired its VSS Unity spaceplane in June 2024 to focus resources on the next-generation fleet. The first Delta research flights are anticipated in the summer of 2026, with private astronaut missions slated to begin in the fall.
The Delta class ships are designed for rapid reusability and will be central to the company's goal of scaling its operations. Each ship is being built to fly up to eight missions per month, a significant increase from VSS Unity's capabilities. This higher flight cadence is intended to service the company's backlog of customers and establish a regular schedule for space tourism and research flights.