Virgin Galactic Completes Sixth Successful Spaceflight in Six Months

Rhea-AI Summary

Virgin Galactic completes its sixth space mission in six months, converting its spaceship into a suborbital lab for scientific research. The mission involved three astronauts and multiple payloads, including biomedical harnesses and healthcare technologies. The company aims to enhance the research capabilities of future spaceships and play a significant role in space research.

Flight Showcases Company’s Unique Suborbital Science-Lab Capabilities

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPCE) (“Virgin Galactic” or the “Company”) today announced the completion of its sixth space mission in six months and tenth to date. The ‘Galactic 05’ mission saw Virgin Galactic’s spaceship converted into a suborbital lab for space-based scientific research for the second time.

Michael Colglazier, CEO of Virgin Galactic, said: “Providing researchers with reliable and repeatable access to a high-quality microgravity environment is vital to our mission of expanding human knowledge and enabling scientific discoveries. We are proud to support the work of the Southwest Research Institute and International Institute for Astronautical Sciences with today’s flight, and we will use insights from the mission to enhance the research capabilities of our future Delta-class spaceships. We look forward to playing an increasingly important role in space research in the years ahead.”

Onboard ‘Galactic 05’:

• Astronaut 020 – Dr. Alan Stern, U.S. Planetary Scientist and Associate Vice President in Southwest Research Institute’s (SwRI) Space Sector
• Astronaut 021 – Kellie Gerardi, U.S. Payload Specialist and Bioastronautics Researcher for the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS)
• Astronaut 022 – Ketty Pucci-Sisti Maisonrouge, Private Astronaut

Dr. Stern flew with two human-tended experiments, including a biomedical harness to collect physiological data related to human spaceflight. He also conducted practice routines and procedures in preparation for a future NASA-funded suborbital research flight.

Dr. Stern said: “The success of this mission is another important step in the development of the scientific and educational use cases for commercial suborbital vehicles. The potential here is literally astronomical.”

Gerardi flew with three payloads, two of which evaluated novel healthcare technologies in microgravity conditions through the collection of biometric data. The third payload examined how confined fluid behaves to inform future healthcare technologies in space.

Gerardi said: “The suborbital science potential for Institutes like ours is unprecedented and I’m also struck by the broader societal impact of commercial human spaceflight — after today’s mission, Virgin Galactic is now responsible for producing 10% of the world’s female astronauts, and I look forward to seeing that number soar for my daughter’s generation.”

Read the Virgin Galactic research overview here and learn more about the ‘Galactic 05’ payloads here.

‘Galactic 05’ was Virgin Galactic’s sixth spaceflight carrying microgravity and space-based research and its second in 2023, following ‘Galactic 01,’ a research mission with the Italian Air Force and National Research Council.

VSS Unity was piloted by Commander Mike Masucci and Pilot Kelly Latimer, with Astronaut Instructor Colin Bennett on board. VMS Eve was piloted by Commander Jameel Janjua and Pilot Andy Edgell.

‘Galactic 05’ in-flight facts:

• Take-off Time: 9:00 am MT
• Altitude at Release: 44,701 ft
• Apogee: 54.2 miles
• Top Speed: Mach 2.96
• Landing Time: 9:59 am MT

The Company will now proceed with post-flight analysis and routine as well as planned annual vehicle inspections before re-commencing standard pre-flight readiness procedures ahead of its next commercial space mission, ‘Galactic 06,’ scheduled for January next year.

Press materials may be accessed via the Virgin Galactic Newsroom at https://press.virgingalactic.com, including:

• Full catalog of hi-res imagery and b-roll from all flights
• Details on research payloads
• Pilot bios
• You can access astronaut bios here: https://www.virgingalactic.com/virgin-galactic-astronauts

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. It has developed a spaceflight system designed to connect the world to the love, wonder and awe created by space travel and to offer customers a transformative experience. You can find more information at https://www.virgingalactic.com/.

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 next commercial space mission and proposed timing thereof, our role in future space research, reliable and repeatable access to space, and the research capabilities of our Delta class spaceships 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/20231102830367/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.

FAQ

What is the latest achievement of Virgin Galactic?

Virgin Galactic completed its sixth space mission in six months and converted its spaceship into a suborbital lab for scientific research.

Who were the astronauts on the 'Galactic 05' mission?

The astronauts on the 'Galactic 05' mission were Dr. Alan Stern, Kellie Gerardi, and Ketty Pucci-Sisti Maisonrouge.

What were the payloads carried during the mission?

The payloads included a biomedical harness to collect physiological data, novel healthcare technologies for evaluating biometric data, and an examination of confined fluid behavior.

What is Virgin Galactic's goal in terms of research capabilities?

Virgin Galactic aims to enhance the research capabilities of its future spaceships.

What is the broader impact of commercial human spaceflight according to Kellie Gerardi?

Kellie Gerardi highlights the broader societal impact of commercial human spaceflight and mentions that Virgin Galactic is now responsible for producing 10% of the world's female astronauts.