Space voyage pioneer Virgin Galactic puts off takeoff of Delta spaceplane
Virgin Galactic, the space travel company founded by Richard Branson, has announced a delay in the launch of its Delta spacecraft from summer 2026 to fall of the same year. This decision comes as a result of ongoing development and optimization efforts aimed at enhancing the spacecraft's reusability and improving turnaround times between flights [1][3].
The delay allows the company to refine its upgraded spaceplane, positioning it better in the competitive commercial space travel market. Notable competitors include Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin LLC and Elon Musk's SpaceX [4].
The Delta spacecraft is designed for both tourist excursions and research opportunities, offering short trips to suborbital flight [5]. The company had initially planned to resume private space tourism trips in autumn 2026, with ticket sales set to reopen in the first quarter of 2026 [1].
This delay follows a commercial flight pause since June 2024, during which the focus has been on the development of the Delta class [2][3]. The company has also made adjustments to its workforce, reducing the in-house engineering team and overall workforce by 7% to streamline operations and concentrate resources on spaceship and launch vehicle programs [1].
Financially, Virgin Galactic has been facing some challenges. The company burned through approximately $55 million in cash during the second quarter, a decrease from around $79 million during the same period last year. Additionally, the company's stock has been down roughly 35 percent for the year [2].
However, shares of Virgin Galactic rose 2.1 percent in US postmarket trading this week, a relief for investors [6]. It is expected that the company plans to raise prices for seats on the Delta spacecraft when ticket sales resume in 2026 [7].
As of the end of June, Virgin Galactic had cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of $508 million, providing the company with a substantial financial buffer [8]. The updated timeline for the Delta commercial flight's launch follows quarterly financial results that fell short of analysts' expectations [9].
Despite these setbacks, the new age of space tourism has not yet arrived, and Virgin Galactic remains committed to its mission of making space travel accessible to the general public.
References:
- Virgin Galactic Delays Launch of Spacecraft to Fall 2026
- Virgin Galactic Burns Through Less Cash in Q2, But Still Falls Short of Analysts' Expectations
- Virgin Galactic Delays Launch of Spacecraft to Fall 2026, Citing Development and Optimization
- Virgin Galactic's Delta Spaceplane: A Competitor in the Commercial Space Travel Market
- What is the Delta Spacecraft, and What Does it Offer?
- Virgin Galactic Shares Rise 2.1 Percent in US Postmarket Trading This Week
- Virgin Galactic Plans to Raise Prices for Seats on the Delta Spacecraft When Ticket Sales Resume in 2026
- Virgin Galactic's Cash Position at the End of Q2
- Virgin Galactic's Q2 Financial Results Fall Short of Analysts' Expectations
The delay in the launch of Virgin Galactic's Delta spacecraft provides an opportunity for the company to refine its upgraded spaceplane, aiming to strengthen its position against competitors like Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin LLC and Elon Musk's SpaceX in the competitive commercial space travel market. Additionally, the company is planning to raise prices for seats on the Delta spacecraft when ticket sales resume in 2026, reflecting ongoing investments in technology and science to enhance the spacecraft's reusability and improve turnaround times between flights.
