Richard Branson's company has pushed the start of commercial suborbital flights to the fourth quarter of next year. This is due to the refinement of equipment and new tests.
According to a statement from Virgin Galactic, the completion program began a month later than expected, and the start of commercial services was postponed to the fourth quarter of 2022.
During this time, the company will conduct a Unity-23 test mission under a contract with the Italian Air Force. Italian pilots will also be on board the spacecraft. The exact date of the mission is unknown.
On the eleventh of July, Virgin Galactic conducted a suborbital flight of the VSS Unity spacecraft of the SpaceShipTwo type. On board, among others, was the head of the company, Richard Branson. Despite the technical difficulties, which became known later, the tests were generally recognized as successful.
Virgin Galactic's competitor, Blue Origin, is also confidently moving forward. Recently, the company made the second launch of the New Shepard spacecraft with people on board. Among the tourists was 90-year-old actor William Shatner.
The ship performed its first manned flight on July 20. In total, New Shepard has made 18 launches so far.
