Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic is an American commercial spaceflight company founded in 2004 by Sir Richard Branson, pioneering suborbital human spaceflight using a unique air-launch system. The company develops and operates SpaceShipTwo — a reusable spaceplane carried aloft by a dedicated mothership (WhiteKnightTwo/VMS Eve) before igniting its hybrid rocket motor for the final ascent to the edge of space.

Virgin Galactic's approach to spaceflight prioritizes passenger experience and environmental responsibility. The SpaceShipTwo design allows passengers to experience weightlessness and view Earth from approximately 85 km altitude before gliding back to a runway landing. This air-launch architecture avoids the infrastructure requirements of traditional vertical launch systems and enables operations from conventional airports.

The company began commercial operations with SpaceShipTwo VSS Unity, conducting passenger flights from Spaceport America in New Mexico. Customers include scientific researchers, government agencies, and private individuals seeking suborbital access.

Virginia Galactic is also developing Delta class SpaceShipTwo vehicles with improved manufacturing processes to support higher flight frequency and a growing manifest of future astronauts.