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Blue Origin’s January announcement that it’s suspending space tourism flights leaves Virgin Galactic, founded by Branson, as the only major company still focused on customers willing to pay big sums to experience weightlessness during short flights to space.
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Virgin Galactic paused tourism operations in 2024 to focus on developing its upgraded Delta spacecraft, which is slated to debut by the end of 2026 and will be capable of making multiple flights a week, according to Branson.
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“The space launch later this year is going to be really important, particularly now that Blue Origin seems to have bowed out of putting people into space,” he said via livestream to a space conference in London. “We need to fill that gap.”
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The Delta should be able to launch, return to Earth and then take off again within two days, Branson said.
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“We’re building them now more like you’d build an airplane,” he said.
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Virgin Galactic had been charging about US$600,000 for seats on the new spacecraft.
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The company, which has already sold 700 seats, is now preparing to reopen sales, Branson said, adding that the ability to launch more frequently will bring the price of tickets down over time.
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Virgin Galactic didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
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