Meet Apeiron, Virgin Galactic's 1st 'Delta-class' space plane

Virgin Galactic recently unveiled its first space plane, designated as Spaceship Apeiron, as the inaugural Delta-class vehicle in its next-generation lineup. The name Apeiron, meaning boundless, was chosen through a worldwide public vote that garnered support from thousands across 83 countries and six continents. The space plane will be transported from its Mesa, Arizona, facility to Spaceport America in New Mexico for final preparations before initiating flight tests.

Apeiron joins a list of four finalists, which narrowed down from a pool of 276 employee-submitted suggestions. Virgin Galactic's CEO, Michael Gorchazier, stated that Apeiron embodies the ambition of human spaceflight and the opportunities it offers humanity. The new Delta-class vehicle will replace the previous VSS Unity, which completed seven suborbital missions between 2023 and 2024 before being grounded for Apeiron's development.

Each Delta-class vehicle can accommodate up to six passengers and is scheduled to fly as many as eight times a month once operational. A second Delta-class space plane is currently under construction, expected to join Apeiron in New Mexico when Virgin Galactic resumes suborbital flights, expected in mid-2027. Tickets for a seat on Apeiron and other Delta-class vehicles now cost $850,000 per person.