Virgin Galactic Successfully Completes 12th Spaceflight
Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPCE) announced today the completion of its second spaceflight of 2024 and 12th mission overall, carrying one researcher and three private astronauts. The ‘Galactic 07’ flight marks the company’s seventh research mission, utilizing Virgin Galactic’s spacecraft as a suborbital laboratory for scientific research.
Onboard ‘Galactic 07’:
- Astronaut 027: Tuva Cihangir Atasever, Turkish Space Agency (TUA) astronaut and Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3) Backup Mission Specialist
- Astronaut 028: Anand “Andy” Harish Sadhwani, California, USA
- Astronaut 029: Irving Izchak Pergament, New York, USA
- Astronaut 030: Giorgio Manenti, Italy
‘Galactic 07’ Flight Details:
- Take-off Time: 8:31 am MT
- Altitude at Release: 44,562 ft
- Apogee: 54.4 miles
- Top Speed: Mach 2.96
- Landing Time: 9:41 am MT
“Watching our pioneering spaceship Unity return from space on its final commercial flight was a breathtaking and proud moment as we celebrate the ship’s unprecedented achievements in human spaceflight and build momentum for the rollout of our first Delta Class ships in 2026,” said Michael Colglazier, CEO of Virgin Galactic.
During the flight, Atasever conducted three human-tended experiments, including custom headgear with brain activity monitoring sensors, a dosimeter, and two commercially available insulin pens to examine insulin administration in microgravity. He also participated in four ground-based investigations conducted by Turkish researchers to understand physiological changes during suborbital spaceflight.
“I am beyond grateful to have represented my country on ‘Galactic 07’ and conduct groundbreaking research that will impact future space missions,” said Atasever. “The successful completion of Ax-3 and now ‘Galactic 07’ is just the beginning of Türkiye’s space endeavors. May our people at home continue to be inspired and dream beyond the stars.”
‘Galactic 07’ also carried two autonomous payloads supported by NASA’s Flight Opportunities program: a Purdue University experiment studying propellant slosh for spacecraft propulsion and a University of California, Berkeley experiment testing new 3D printing technology in microgravity.
The flight marks Virgin Galactic’s seventh spaceflight focused on microgravity and space-based research, following previous missions such as ‘Galactic 05’ with Dr. Alan Stern and Kellie Gerardi, and ‘Galactic 01’ with the Italian Air Force and National Research Council. VSS Unity was piloted by Commander Nicola Pecile and Pilot Jameel Janjua, while VMS Eve was piloted by Commander Andy Edgell and Pilot C.J. Sturckow.
Virgin Galactic is now producing its fourth-generation Delta Class spaceships, expected to enter commercial service in 2026, building on VSS Unity’s impressive record of 32 total flights, including 12 to space.
For press materials, including high-resolution imagery and videos from ‘Galactic 07’, visit the Virgin Galactic Newsroom. More information about Virgin Galactic can be found at www.virgingalactic.com.
About Virgin Galactic: Virgin Galactic is a pioneering aerospace and space travel company, advancing human spaceflight for private individuals and researchers with its state-of-the-art air and space vehicles. The company aims to drive scale and profitability with next-generation vehicles, providing frequent and cost-effective access to space.
Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements, other than historical facts, including those regarding our spaceflight systems, development of Delta class spaceships, and their proposed timeline, are forward-looking. They involve risks, uncertainties, and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially. For more details, refer to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, and other filings with the SEC at www.sec.gov and www.virgingalactic.com. We disclaim any obligation to update forward-looking statements, even if subsequent events change our views.
