Virgin Galactic is preparing for its first private passenger flight, Galactic 02, after successfully completing its first commercial spaceflight. The private passenger flight is expected to take place on August 10th, and a live stream will be available on the Virgin Galactic website.
Galactic 02 will carry a total of three passengers, with one paying customer and two winners of a fundraising draw for Space for Humanity. The paying customer is Jon Goodwin, an 80-year-old Olympian, while Keisha Schahaff and her daughter Anastasia Mayers will be the first Caribbeans to fly to space as well as the first mother-daughter duo. Virgin Galactic’s chief instructor, Beth Moses, will also be part of the crew.
Virgin Galactic’s previous commercial flight, Galactic 01, took place in late June and had a crew of Italian government workers conducting microgravity studies. While the specific activities of Galactic 02’s civilian crew have not been disclosed, they will have the opportunity to experience space tourism.
After facing various delays in previous years, Virgin Galactic has been increasing its operational activities recently. Galactic 02 will be the company’s seventh spaceflight overall and the third in 2023. Virgin Galactic aims to establish a regular cadence of flights, potentially making space travel more routine if all goes as planned.
The increased frequency of flights is crucial for Virgin Galactic’s financial outlook. The company has been operating at a loss for several years, including a loss of over $500 million in 2022. While ticket prices for spaceflights start at $450,000, it will take time for the business to recover its losses. However, attracting paying customers is vital to mitigate losses and build a case for space tourism.
Although Blue Origin and SpaceX have already flown civilians to space at higher altitudes than Virgin Galactic, they have not yet established regular launch schedules for tourists. SpaceX’s lunar trips are pending the completion of Starship testing, while Blue Origin is waiting to resume flights following a rocket failure in 2022. In this regard, Virgin Galactic appears to be the closest to achieving its tourism goals, assuming it maintains the pace it has set this summer.
