Virgin Galactic Launches Into the New Year With January Commercial Flight

Rhea-AI Summary

Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:SPCE) announced the opening of the 'Galactic 06' flight window on January 26, 2024. This will be the company's 11th spaceflight, following a year of unprecedented human spaceflight achievements. Four private astronauts from three different countries will journey to space on Virgin Galactic's sixth commercial spaceflight. The crew will include VSS Unity Commander CJ Sturckow and pilot Nicola Pecile, as well as VMS Eve Commander Michael Masucci and pilot Dan Alix.

‘Galactic 06’ Mission Launch Window Opens January 26, 2024

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:SPCE) today announced the ‘Galactic 06’ flight window will open January 26, 2024. This will be the Company’s 11th spaceflight to date and will follow a year of unprecedented human spaceflight achievements that included six suborbital spaceflights in six months. Four private astronauts from three different countries will journey to space on Virgin Galactic’s sixth commercial spaceflight.

The private astronauts onboard the ‘Galactic 06’ mission will include:

• Astronaut 023 – Private Astronaut from Ukraine and California, United States
• Astronaut 024 – Private Astronaut from Texas, United States
• Astronaut 025 – Private Astronaut from Austria
• Astronaut 026 – Private Astronaut from California, United States

The Virgin Galactic crew will include:

• VSS Unity Commander CJ Sturckow and pilot Nicola Pecile
• VMS Eve Commander Michael Masucci and pilot Dan Alix

Michael Colglazier, CEO of Virgin Galactic, said: “Our inaugural year of commercial service demonstrated our spaceflight system’s ability to regularly deliver a safe and unparalleled customer experience for our astronauts and established new turn time records for reuseable human spaceflight systems. We’re excited to begin 2024 by bringing four new Virgin Galactic astronauts to space with our ‘Galactic 06’ mission.”

Stay tuned to Virgin Galactic’s social channels for ‘Galactic 06’ mission updates.

About Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic is an aerospace and space travel company, pioneering human spaceflight for private individuals and researchers with its advanced air and space vehicles. Scale and profitability are driven by next generation vehicles capable of bringing humans to space at an unprecedented frequency with an industry-leading cost structure. You can find more information at https://www.virgingalactic.com/.

You can download all press materials from https://www.virgingalactic.com/news/.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding our spaceflight systems, expected flight schedule and window, safe and repeatable access to space, continued delivery of unparalleled astronaut experience, and future astronauts, pilots and crew are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “potential,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “strategy,” “future,” “could,” “would,” “project,” “plan,” “target,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements use these words or expressions. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward looking statements, including but not limited to the factors, risks and uncertainties included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and the Investor Relations section of our website at www.virgingalactic.com, which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent management’s estimates as of the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231219498232/en/

For Media Inquiries:

Aleanna Crane - Vice President, Communications

News@virgingalactic.com

575.800.4422

Jeff Michael - Communications

News@virgingalactic.com

661.754.4300

For Investor Inquiries:

Eric Cerny - Vice President, Investor Relations

vg-ir@virgingalactic.com

949.774.7637

Source: Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc.

When will the 'Galactic 06' mission launch window open?

The 'Galactic 06' mission launch window will open on January 26, 2024.

How many spaceflights has Virgin Galactic completed so far?

Virgin Galactic has completed 11 spaceflights to date.

Who will be the private astronauts onboard the 'Galactic 06' mission?

The private astronauts onboard the 'Galactic 06' mission will include individuals from Ukraine, Texas, Austria, and California.

Who will be part of the Virgin Galactic crew for the 'Galactic 06' mission?

The Virgin Galactic crew will include VSS Unity Commander CJ Sturckow, pilot Nicola Pecile, VMS Eve Commander Michael Masucci, and pilot Dan Alix.

What did the CEO of Virgin Galactic, Michael Colglazier, say about the 'Galactic 06' mission?

Michael Colglazier stated that the company's inaugural year of commercial service demonstrated the spaceflight system's ability to deliver a safe and unparalleled customer experience, and they are excited to bring four new astronauts to space with the 'Galactic 06' mission.