Virgin Galactic Returns VSS Unity to Flight, Continues Development of Next-Generation Models

With the suspension of operations of New Shepard by Blue Origin to focus on the development of the New Glenn rocket, and with Virgin Galactic planning a substantial upgrade for its spaceplanes, currently the U.S. suborbital space tourism sector has no solutions capable of carrying customers or payloads beyond 80 km (50 miles).

As we know, Jeff Bezos's company is dealing with the consequences of the New Glenn explosion while it was on the launch pad for testing.

On the other hand, Virgin Galactic has begun a series of tests with the VSS Unity spaceplane in a section of sky above Spaceport America in New Mexico to prepare the company's pilots and operational teams for the resumption of Spaceship operations.
Mike Moses (president of Virgin Galactic Spaceline) stated that "Unity's gliding characteristics and energy management profile provide an exceptional real-world proxy for our new Spaceship. Utilizing a proven vehicle in this way prepares our pilots and operational teams to move through flight tests for our new Spaceship more efficiently and with greater safety than simulator training alone could provide."

As we know, the U.S. company is developing its next-generation spaceplane that will debut in the coming years. To reduce operational costs and risks, the gliding tests of this spaceplane will occur without propulsion and will serve to improve the reactions of all teams involved when flights resume, first with tests and then with crew and customers.

According to information released by Virgin Galactic, the first next-generation Spaceship spaceplane could debut for testing in the third quarter of 2026, while tests with rocket engine ignition could be scheduled by the end of the year. These solutions are designed to fly twice a week and withstand over 500 missions, thereby increasing launch cadence and reducing costs for the company.

This is a different approach from Blue Origin and comes with a different risk profile, not using capsule and rocket but support airplane and spaceplane. It is still unclear whether Virgin Galactic will truly be able to make this type of experience accessible to a large number of paying customers and scientific institutions. The costs of operations may indeed absorb a lot of money, preventing the company from achieving real profits.