Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShip ground tests march on ahead of Unity glide flights
Virgin Galactic’s new suborbital space adventurer, SpaceShip, is advancing through ground tests and is on track to commence flight testing from July 2026.
On May 14, 2026, Virgin Galactic confirmed in an update that the first SpaceShip had reached ‘Weight on Wheels’ in April 2026, bringing the assembly phase to a close.
The company also announced that its former spacecraft Unity will return for an “encore performance” later this month, in the first of several glide flights.
“It’s an outstanding real-world proxy for our pilots ahead of flight testing for the new ship,” said a spokesperson for Virgin Galactic.
Virgin Galactic has also declared that it will be expanding its “world-class pilot corps” ahead of flight testing and commercial operations.
Virgin Galactic Michael Colglazier, CEO of Virgin Galactic, said: “We’ve delivered the first of our new SpaceShips from our Assembly hangar to our Test-and-Launch hangar, ground testing of that SpaceShip is underway, and we remain on track to commence flight testing in Q3 and spaceflight in Q4 of this year.”
Ahead of the first space flights, scheduled for the latter part of the year, Virgin Galactic has contacted 650 “founding astronauts” and provided them with an expected flight window.
“The majority will complete their Spaceflight Expedition in 2027, with the remainder journeying to space in the first half of 2028,” said the spokesperson.
CFO Doug Aherns said that the space adventure firm is planning an initial flight rate of four times per month in January 2027, growing to eight flights per month by Q2.
A second spaceship, currently being assembled, will enter service between late Q4 2026 and early Q1 2027. A Static Test Article is also undergoing structural assembly.
Smarter testing. Faster path to flight. Our investment in off-ship testing infrastructure is letting our new SpaceShips move from structural assembly through ground testing and into flight test in a fraction of the time. Learn more on this episode of We Build SpaceShips. pic.twitter.com/4NRdDU9yMX— Virgin Galactic (@virgingalactic) May 14, 2026 “This timing keeps us on track with our plans to substantially increase the number of spaceflights per month during the first two quarters of 2027,” the spokesperson added.
Additionally, construction is underway on Virgin Galactic’s Rocket Motor Assembly line, located near the SpaceShip hangars in Phoenix.
The assembly line is expected to be operational in Q4 2026, but for the meantime, the company claims to have a “substantial number of motors in our inventory to carry us through the start of commercial operations”.
Colglazier added: “We’re proud of our progress and we’re moving with momentum. Factory tours are now open for founding astronauts, prospective customers, and guests. Next up: a SpaceShip christening and journey to Spaceport America. Just wait until you see this ship with its new livery.”
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Virgin Galactic’s new suborbital space adventurer, SpaceShip, is advancing through ground tests and is on track to commence…
The post Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShip ground tests march on ahead of Unity glide flights appeared first on AeroTime.
