Virgin Galactic Announce Launch Window for ‘Galactic 07’

Ibadan, 6 May 2024. – Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. has announced the ‘Galactic 07’ flight window will open on Saturday, June 8, 2024. This will be the Company’s second spaceflight this year and twelfth to date. The Company will once again convert its spaceship into a suborbital science lab, with VSS Unity carrying an Axiom Space affiliated researcher astronaut who will conduct multiple human-tended experiments.

In addition, Purdue University and UC Berkeley will have autonomous payloads on board, which will enjoy support from NASA’s Flight Opportunities program. This mission showcases Virgin Galactic’s ability to provide a flexible microgravity research platform, benefiting further space exploration initiatives as well as innovations on Earth. The crew for the mission will include VSS Unity Commander Nicola Pecile and pilot Jameel Janjua, and VMS Eve Commander Andy Edgell and pilot C.J. Sturckow.

The ‘Galactic 07’ autonomous research payloads will include a Purdue University experiment to study propellant slosh in fuel tanks of maneuvering spacecraft, as well as a UC Berkeley payload testing a new type of 3D printing. Virgin Galactic has flown payloads for NASA’s Flight Opportunities program since its first spaceflight in 2018. Galactic 07 will also include research and participation from Virgin Galactic partner Axiom Space.

Michael Colglazier, CEO of Virgin Galactic, commented, “Discovery and innovation are central to our mission at Virgin Galactic. We’re happy to build on our successful record of facilitating scientific experiments in suborbital space, and we look forward to continuing to expand our role in suborbital research going forward. ‘Galactic 07’ will also mark and celebrate VSS Unity’s final commercial flight – an exciting and historic turning point for the business as we dedicate our resources fully to the production of our next-generation Delta spaceships.”