Virgin Galactic has ceased flying its only space plane. Now what?
What was the altitude reached by the VSS Unity space plane on its final flight?
The VSS Unity space plane reached an altitude of 54.4 miles (87.5 km) on its final flight.
How does Virgin Galactic's new plan affect the operational demands on the VMS Eve aircraft?
Virgin Galactic's new plan significantly increases the operational demands on the VMS Eve aircraft. With the development of two Delta-class spaceships, the company aims to begin flying them in 2026, carrying six passengers each. To support the commercial operations of these two ships, Virgin Galactic has a targeted maintenance plan for Eve to support three spaceflights a week and 125 flights a year. This is a considerable increase from its current demonstrated ability to fly once a month after major enhancement programs in 2022 and 2023. The plan assumes that the aging VMS Eve, which is nearly two decades old, will hold up to this rigorous flight schedule, which it was not originally designed for.
How many commercial space flights did VSS Unity complete before its retirement?
VSS Unity completed seven commercial space flights before its retirement.