Virgin Galactic, the space tourism firm founded by Richard Branson, said on Thursday its long-awaited commercial spaceflight service would launch later this month, sending its shares up over 55 percent in trading after the bell.
The first spaceflight, called "Galactic 01", is
planned between June 27 and June 30, the company said.
"Galactic 02" will follow in early August, with
monthly spaceflights expected thereafter, the company said.
Shares of Virgin Galactic had lost over two-thirds of their
value last year due to delays in the company's launch of commercial service.
Shares were up at $6.30 in aftermarket
trading on Thursday.
The company had suspended flights of the spaceplane VSS
Unity and its carrier plane in 2021 to make various spacecraft enhancements,
delaying its debut customer mission to the edge of space.
But in February, it said it had completed a lengthy upgrade
period for its centrepiece tourist spacecraft, clearing the path for its first
commercial spaceflight. Shares of the company have risen about 16 percent so
far in 2023.
The first commercial mission will carry three crew members
from the Italian Air Force and the National Research Council of Italy to
conduct microgravity research, Virgin Galactic said. © Reuters