Virgin Galactic moves next-generation ship to New Mexico base

Virgin Galactic delivered its new spacecraft Apeiron to Spaceport America in Truth or Consequences on Oct. 28. The arrival marks the start of a preparation phase for upcoming flight tests. The company confirmed that commercial passenger trips are scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2027.

The spacecraft was revealed at a factory in Mesa, Arizona, earlier on Oct. 28. Engineers then flew the ship from Arizona to the New Mexico base. Apeiron serves as the lead vehicle in the company's next-generation fleet. It was built with major aerospace suppliers and is designed to operate twice per week. The company states the ship has a functional lifetime of more than 500 missions.

The name Apeiron comes from ancient Greek, meaning boundless. Virgin Galactic selected the name through a public vote. A shortlist was developed by company employees and members of the astronaut community. The company reported that people from more than 80 countries participated in the selection process.

Michael Colglazier described the delivery as a milestone. “Seeing the ship fly beneath Eve to Spaceport America was a moment years in the making. To our team and our astronaut community: your Spaceship has arrived,” Colglazier said.

The engineering team will now focus on avionics software integration and validation at the New Mexico site. This work is a prerequisite for the flight test program. Virgin Galactic expects to start flying customers after the test program concludes successfully.

The second spacecraft in the fleet is expected to begin commercial operations late next year. Virgin Galactic’s last spaceflight at Spaceport America occurred in 2024. Flights were originally scheduled to resume in 2026 but were delayed until this new arrival.