Virgin Galactic plans to fly to space 125 times per year beginning in 2026 while scaling up its operations at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico .
Virgin Galactic made the announcement while reporting financial results for the first quarter that ended March 31. The company’s revenue was $2 million in the quarter, driven by commercial spaceflight and future astronaut fees, compared to about $400,000 the first quarter of 2023, according to a news release.
Photos: Virgin Galactic prepares for historic launch
VMS Eve, Virgin Galactic's mothership, with the six-passenger VSS Unity spaceship attached to the wings of Eve inside the hanger at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Wednesday. Virgin Galactic will be sending three members of the Italian Air Force into space Thursday morning for Virgin Galactic’s first scientific research mission, "Galactic 01." (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal)
Col. Walter Villadei of the Italian Air Force poses for photographs at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Wednesday. Villadei is a member of the Italian Air Force and one of three Italians who will be sent to space on Thursday morning for Virgin Galatic’s first scientific research mission, "Galactic 01.” (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal)
Dave Mackay, the Chief Pilot for Virgin Galactic, demonstrates how the company's training simulator operates with Jacqui Goddard, U.S. news correspondent for The Times of London, during a press tour of Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Wednesday. Virgin Galactic will be sending three members of the Italian Air Force into space for a research mission Thursday morning. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal)
Although it is an active test facility and closed to public access, there are tours that can be arranged in advance through Final Frontier Tours. Tours departing from Las Cruces are only on Fridays at 9:00 am., meeting at the Visit Las Cruces building. Tours from Truth or Consequences of Spaceport America are only on Saturdays at 9:00 am and 1:00 pm., meeting at the Visitors Center.
The company has a 13-passenger shuttle van to pick visitors from the meeting points, and there must be at least seven people for a full tour.
Three weeks' notice is needed for schools and tourists from tour companies with groups of 25 guests or more.
Large group tours are available on Mondays through Thursdays. The tour office is closed on Sundays.
The cost of tours for adults are $49.99 plus tax. Children 12 and younger are $29.99 plus tax. School students with a group size of 25 or more are $29.99 regardless of their age.
The tour lasts roughly four hours including the drive times.
To book a tour, call 575-267-8888 or email cr@finalfrontiertour.com.
Dave Mackay, the Chief Pilot for Virgin Galactic, holds a model of the VSS Unity spaceship during a press tour of Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Wednesday. Virgin Galactic will be sending three members of the Italian Air Force into space for a research mission Thursday morning. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal)
Col. Walter Villadei of the Italian Air Force takes a moment looking out at the tarmac at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Wednesday, June 28, 2023. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal)
Dave Mackay, the Chief Pilot for Virgin Galactic, demonstrates how the company's training simulator operates during a press tour of Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Wednesday. Virgin Galactic will be sending three members of the Italian Air Force into space for a research mission Thursday morning. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal)
Dave Mackay, the Chief Pilot for Virgin Galactic, demonstrates how the company's training simulator operates during a press tour of Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Wednesday. Virgin Galactic will be sending three members of the Italian Air Force into space for a research mission Thursday morning. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal)
The STEM activities available for classrooms include educational videos and downloadable activity sheets for classrooms up to sixth grade.
Dave Mackay, the Chief Pilot for Virgin Galactic, demonstrates how the company's training simulator operates with Jacqui Goddard, U.S. news correspondent for The Times of London, during a press tour of Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Wednesday. Virgin Galactic will be sending three members of the Italian Air Force into space for a research mission Thursday morning. (Chancey Bush/ Albuquerque Journal)
Photos: Virgin Galactic completes first commercial research flight
Colin Bennett, Virgin Galactic astronaut, kisses his four-year-old daughter Rowan after returning safely from the “Galactic 01” mission at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Thursday, June 29, 2023.
The state invested $218.5 million into the project, $142.1 million was allocated by the State of New Mexico and $76.4 million was generated by local spaceport gross receipt taxes.
Italian Air Force Col. Walter Villadei, in blue, waves to the crowd with Pantaleone Carlucci, left, with the National Research Council of Italy, before climbing into the vehicles with Virgin Galactic team members to ride out to the runway and board the VSS Unity spaceship and VMS Eve mothership at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Thursday.
People watch the VSS Unity spaceship fly into view returning from space at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Thursday, June 29, 2023.
The VSS Unity spaceship glides into view returning from space at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Thursday, June 29, 2023.
A woman records on her phone before the take off of the VMS Eve mothership and the VSS Unity spaceship at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Thursday, June 29, 2023.
People celebrate as the VSS Unity spaceship lands safely on the runway at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Thursday, June 29, 2023.
Dania Pecile, wife of VSS Unity pilot Nicola Pecile, gets emotional during the "Galactic 01” mission at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Thursday, June 29, 2023.
Italian Air Force Col. Walter Villadei hugs Lucia Paciucci after the successful mission of “Galactic 01” at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Thursday, June 29, 2023.
VSS Unity Commander Michael Masucci waves to the crowd after the successful mission of "Galactic 01" at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Thursday, June 29, 2023.
Carly Bennett holds her one-year old daughter Neave with her four-year-old daughter Rowan, being held by Jamila Gilbert, right, and Bennett’s best friend Madeline Ray, left, as they celebrate VSS Unity and Carly’s husband, Virgin Galactic Astronaut Colin Bennett, during the “Galactic 01” mission at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Thursday, June 29, 2023.
Virgin Galactic Astronaut Colin Bennett hugs his two daughters Neave, 1, and Rowan, 4, after returning safely from the “Galactic 01” mission at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Thursday, June 29, 2023.
Virgin Galactic Astronaut Colin Bennett picks up his two daughters Neave, 1, and Rowan, 4, after returning safely from the “Galactic 01” mission at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Thursday, June 29, 2023.
People watch the VMS Eve mothership and the VSS Unity spaceship take off into the distance at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Thursday, June 29, 2023.
The spaceport is located roughly 4,600 feet above sea level, and the concrete runway is 12,000 feet long by 200 feet wide. The property consists of 18,000 acres, and there is 6,000 square miles of restricted airspace for the tenants to use.
Virgin Galactic’s “Galactic 01” mission launch Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Thursday, June 29, 2023. Italian Air Force Col. Walter Villadei and Lt. Col. Angelo Landolfi, and Pantaleone Carlucci, an engineer from the National Research Council of Italy, joins Virgin Galactic's astronaut Colin Bennett for the scientific research mission.
Italian Air Force Col. Walter Villadei, in blue, celebrates the successful "Galactic 01" mission at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Thursday, June 29, 2023.
Morgan Brennan, anchor and reporter at CNBC, prepares for the launch at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Thursday, June 29, 2023.
Galactic 01 crew members depart and head to the launch site at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Thursday, June 29, 2023.
The VSS Unity spaceship is towed from the runway to the tarmac at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Thursday, June 29, 2023.
Rowan Bennett, 4, daughter of Virgin Galactic astronaut Colin Bennett gives out a hug on the tarmac before the "Galactic 01" mission launch at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Thursday, June 29, 2023.
Pantaleone Carlucci, left, with the National Research Council of Italy, gives a speech next to Italian Air Force Col. Walter Villadei, in blue, after arriving back from the “Galactic 01” research mission at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Thursday, June 29, 2023.
See 20+ pictures of tourists in space; Aug. 10, 2023 from Spaceport America in New Mexico
From the left, Anastatia Mayers, 18, Olympic athlete Jon Goodwin and Keisha Schahaff react to the cameras on the tarmac in preparation to board the VSS Unity, marking Virgin Galactic’s first space tourism launch, dubbed “Galactic 02,” at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023. The spaceflight flew the first Olympian, first female astronauts from the Caribbean, including the youngest person to go to space, first mother-daughter duo, and most women flown in a single mission to space.
Jon Goodwin’s family wave goodbye as the three private passengers head out to board the VSS Unity, marking Virgin Galactic’s first space tourism launch, dubbed “Galactic 02,” at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023.
The VSS Unity detaches from the VMS Eve mothership, traveling toward suborbit
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The VSS Unity takes off at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023.
Supporters wave flags for the two Antiguan passengers
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Olympian athlete Jon Goodwin, Keisha Schahaff, center, and daughter Anastatia Mayers react to the cameras on the tarmac in preparation to board the VSS Unity, marking Virgin Galactic’s first space tourism launch, dubbed “Galactic 02,” at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023.
Olympian athlete Jon Goodwin waves to the crowd after a safe return
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Chief Astronaut Instructor Beth Moses speaks to the crowd after the crew returns safely from Virgin Galactic’s first space tourism launch, dubbed “Galactic 02,” at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023.
Colin James, CEO of Antigua Barbuda Tourism Authority, hugs Keisha Schahaff goodbye as the three private citizens prepare to leave the tarmac to board the VSS Unity, marking Virgin Galactic’s first space tourism launch, dubbed “Galactic 02,” at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023.
Virgin Galactic’s first space tourism launch, dubbed “Galactic 02,” at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023.
Anastatia Mayers, 18, smiles before leaving to board the VSS Unity at Spaceport America in southern New Mexico on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023.
The sunrise at Spaceport America Thursday.
David Mendal, 59, resident of Miami, is still waiting to fly with Virgin Galactic after buying his ticket 17 years ago.
Ercil Charles, deputy director of news of ABS Television and Radio of Antigua and Barbuda, covers the
launch
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