Company Description
Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPCE) is described in its public disclosures and press releases as an aerospace and space travel company. The company focuses on human-first spaceflight for private individuals, researchers, and governments, using advanced SpaceShips and a high-altitude launch vehicle/carrier aircraft. According to its statements, Virgin Galactic is developing a spaceflight system intended to provide a multi-day, transformative experience that culminates in a flight to space with views of Earth and several minutes of weightlessness.
Virgin Galactic’s own descriptions emphasize that its scale and profitability objectives are tied to next-generation vehicles designed to take humans to space at a high flight rate and with what it characterizes as an industry-leading cost structure. The company has indicated that it is in a pre-revenue phase for its new SpaceShips, investing in rocket systems, avionics, flight controls, mechanical systems and structures, and related infrastructure to support future commercial service.
Business focus and spaceflight model
Based on the company’s own descriptions in earnings releases and news, Virgin Galactic’s business model centers on operating a spaceline that offers:
- Suborbital spaceflights for private individuals, often referred to by the company as private astronaut flights.
- Research missions for universities, laboratories, and other organizations that wish to fly research payloads or personnel.
- Government-related missions, where applicable, using its SpaceShips and launch vehicle.
The company has stated that it plans to begin commercial spaceflight service with a research space mission, followed by private astronaut spaceflights. It also notes that customer deposits and access fees related to future astronauts have historically been a source of revenue, reflecting advance sales for future flights.
Vehicles, infrastructure, and technology
Virgin Galactic describes itself as operating with advanced SpaceShips and a launch vehicle, sometimes also referred to as a high-altitude carrier aircraft. The company highlights that its launch vehicle has performance characteristics that can support a variety of high-altitude mission needs. In collaboration with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Virgin Galactic is assessing the potential to use LLNL sensor systems aboard its launch vehicles to gather data and develop high-altitude, long-endurance, heavy-lift (HALE-Heavy) image-capture capabilities.
The company has reported progress across rocket systems, avionics, flight controls, mechanical systems, and structures for its new SpaceShips. It has also disclosed that a significant portion of structural parts for its first new SpaceShip are expected to be in its factory within a defined timeframe, and that assemblies such as wings and feather assemblies are key milestones in its production checklist.
Customer segments and use cases
According to repeated "About Virgin Galactic" sections in its press releases, the company targets three main customer groups:
- Private individuals who wish to experience spaceflight as private astronauts.
- Researchers who require access to suborbital space for experiments and payloads.
- Governments that may use the company’s SpaceShips and launch vehicle for research or other missions.
The company has also announced specific research missions, such as a mission with Purdue University, and has indicated that it expects most of its existing customers to fly during a defined period once commercial operations are underway.
Corporate and capital structure context
Virgin Galactic is incorporated in Delaware and its common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SPCE, as reflected in its Form 8-K filings. The company has used a combination of convertible senior notes, first lien notes, warrants, and at-the-market (ATM) equity programs to fund its operations and development activities. In late 2025, Virgin Galactic reported entering into and completing a series of transactions that included:
- Repurchasing a substantial portion of its 2.50% convertible senior notes due 2027.
- Issuing 9.80% First Lien Notes due 2028 secured by liens on substantially all of the company’s and certain subsidiaries’ assets, subject to customary exceptions.
- Issuing pre-funded warrants and purchase warrants to acquire shares of common stock.
The company has also disclosed that it maintains customer deposits and has a history of raising capital through common stock issuance under its ATM program and other registered offerings.
Governance and corporate mechanics
Virgin Galactic has filed amendments to its Amended and Restated By-Laws, as reported in an 8-K, to address matters such as voting standards for stockholder matters (other than director elections), procedural mechanics for stockholder nominations and proposals, compliance with universal proxy rules, and exclusive forum provisions for certain Securities Act claims. These changes reflect the company’s approach to corporate governance and stockholder interaction as disclosed in its filings.
The company has also reported on compensation arrangements for key executives and inducement equity awards for non-executive employees, under NYSE Listing Rule 303A.08, indicating the use of restricted stock units that vest over multi-year periods. These disclosures provide insight into how Virgin Galactic structures incentives and retains personnel as it develops its spaceline operations.
Financial reporting and development phase
Virgin Galactic regularly reports its quarterly and annual financial results and provides business updates via press releases and Form 8-K filings. The company has highlighted that it is investing heavily in the build-out of its new SpaceShips and related infrastructure, and that it has paused certain commercial spaceflights in order to focus on production of its next-generation vehicles. In its own words, the company characterizes this as a pre-revenue phase for the new vehicles, during which it is building assets it expects to support a future business model based on frequent spaceflights and fixed-cost leverage.
Virgin Galactic uses non-GAAP financial measures such as non-GAAP total operating expenses, Adjusted EBITDA, and free cash flow, and provides reconciliations to GAAP measures in its earnings materials. It states that these measures are intended to help investors understand and evaluate its operating results and key metrics used by management.
Regulatory and listing status
Based on the provided Form 8-K filings, Virgin Galactic’s common stock remains listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SPCE. The filings do not indicate any delisting, deregistration, or bankruptcy events in the supplied materials. The company continues to file current reports on Form 8-K regarding financial results, governance changes, financing transactions, and other material events.
Frequently asked questions about Virgin Galactic (SPCE)
- What does Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. do?
Virgin Galactic describes itself as an aerospace and space travel company focused on human-first spaceflight for private individuals, researchers, and governments. It is developing and operating advanced SpaceShips and a launch vehicle to conduct suborbital spaceflights that provide views of Earth from space and several minutes of weightlessness. - How does Virgin Galactic describe its business model?
In its press releases, the company states that its scale and profitability are driven by next-generation vehicles capable of taking humans to space at an unprecedented frequency, supported by what it characterizes as an industry-leading cost structure. It has also referred to itself as being in a pre-revenue phase for its new SpaceShips while it builds out assets and infrastructure. - Who are Virgin Galactic’s target customers?
According to the "About Virgin Galactic" sections in its news releases, the company targets private individuals (private astronauts), researchers, and governments. It has referenced research missions with institutions such as Purdue University and collaborations with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. - What vehicles does Virgin Galactic use for its missions?
Virgin Galactic refers to its vehicles as advanced SpaceShips and a launch vehicle or high-altitude carrier aircraft. These are designed to carry humans and research payloads to suborbital space and to support high-altitude missions, including feasibility work on HALE-Heavy image-capture capabilities. - On which exchange does SPCE trade?
Form 8-K filings state that Virgin Galactic’s common stock, with a par value of $0.0001 per share, is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol SPCE. - What types of missions has Virgin Galactic discussed?
The company has discussed research missions, including a mission with Purdue University, and private astronaut spaceflights. It has also mentioned a feasibility study with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to explore using its launch vehicle for high-altitude, long-endurance, heavy-lift missions with advanced optical sensing technologies. - How is Virgin Galactic financing its development activities?
Virgin Galactic has disclosed the use of convertible senior notes, first lien notes, warrants, and common stock offerings, including an at-the-market equity program. In 2025, it reported repurchasing a significant portion of its 2.50% convertible senior notes due 2027 and issuing 9.80% First Lien Notes due 2028, along with pre-funded and purchase warrants. - Does Virgin Galactic use non-GAAP financial measures?
Yes. In its earnings releases, the company presents non-GAAP total operating expenses, Adjusted EBITDA, and free cash flow, and provides reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP measures. It states that these metrics are used by management to understand and evaluate operating performance. - Has Virgin Galactic announced any plans for additional spaceports?
In its business updates, the company has mentioned progressing through a feasibility study to potentially develop a second spaceport in Italy, and has described this as part of its broader commercial preparations. - What governance changes has Virgin Galactic reported?
An 8-K filing describes amendments to the company’s Amended and Restated By-Laws, including changes to voting standards for stockholder matters (other than director elections), enhanced procedural requirements for stockholder nominations and proposals, provisions addressing universal proxy rules, and exclusive forum provisions for certain Securities Act claims.