# Virgin Galactic moves first Delta spacecraft towards New Mexico for testing

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-last-best-hope-for-space-tourism-just-rolled-onto-a-runway-in-arizona/
- Published: 2026-10-28T19:20:36+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-28T20:49:42+00:00
- Original publisher: Ars Technica
- Original article: https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/10/the-last-best-hope-for-space-tourism-just-rolled-onto-a-runway-in-arizona/
- Topics: Culture, Fashion, Space, Technology, Travel

## Key points

- Apeiron has reached the next stage of preparation in New Mexico.
- Virgin Galactic is targeting commercial flights in early Q2 2027.
- Testing and the company’s commercial prospects remain uncertain.

## Summary

Virgin Galactic has moved its first Delta-class spacecraft, named Apeiron, from its factory in Arizona towards Spaceport America in New Mexico for further testing. The move marks progress towards restarting the company’s suborbital tourism flights, which have not taken place in the United States for 10 months.

At the spaceport, teams will finish work on the craft’s avionics and flight software before ground tests, captive-carry tests and a drop test, followed by a powered test flight above 80 kilometres. Virgin Galactic expects Apeiron’s first commercial flight in early Q2 2027, though the date remains uncertain. The company plans two Delta craft, but faces doubts about whether its vehicles can fly reliably and often enough to make the business viable.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.