Virgin Galactic shares rise ahead of next launch

Virgin Galactic (NYSE:SPCE) trading positively in Friday’s dealing, up 3% to 85 cents per share, as the space tourism company prepares for the final flight of its Unity spacecraft.

The last Unity spacecraft flight is scheduled for Saturday, 8 June.

It is part of the Galactic 07 mission, with the flight set to carry three private astronauts.

“It’s #Galactic07 Spaceflight Week!” Virgin Galactic wrote Monday on X (formerly Twitter).

“Excitement is in the air as preparations ramp up for the upcoming mission. The window opens Saturday, June 8, 2024. Let the good times roll.”

This is slated to be the final flight for Virgin Galactic’s Unity spacecraft, before the company halts commercial operations to develop its new Delta-class spacecraft.

Virgin’s next vessel, the Delta spacecraft, will have six passenger seats and could conduct up to eight spaceflights per month.

Passengers can buy their place on a Delta for $600,000, whereas Unity’s ticket price was $450,000.