Virgin Galactic unveils Apeiron spaceplane — ticket costs $850,000
Passenger flights of the new vehicle are planned to begin in 2027
Virgin Galactic has unveiled Apeiron, the first Delta-class spaceplane of the new generation, designed to carry six passengers. The cost of a seat for new customers is $850,000.
On 28 October, the vehicle was transported from a facility in Arizona to Spaceport America in New Mexico. The flight was conducted under the carrier aircraft Eve. At the new base, engineers will complete the integration and testing of onboard software, as well as preparations for flight tests.
If the test programme is successful, Virgin Galactic plans to begin commercial flights of Apeiron in early Q2 2027. A second spaceplane is already under assembly, with its commissioning scheduled for late Q2 or early Q3.
The Delta vehicles are designed for short suborbital journeys without entering Earth's orbit. Passengers will be able to spend several minutes in weightlessness and view the planet from a high altitude.
The new generation is expected to allow the company to increase the frequency of launches. The target is up to two flights per week per spaceplane, with the vehicle's estimated lifespan exceeding 500 missions.
The $850,000 price applies to the new batch of tickets. According to LATTE Luxury News, earlier in 2026, the company offered seats for $650,000 — $200,000 cheaper.
The name Apeiron is derived from an ancient Greek word meaning 'boundless.' It was chosen through a public vote involving participants from over 80 countries. The Delta spaceplanes are set to replace VSS Unity, whose flights Virgin Galactic concluded in 2024 to focus on developing the new generation of vehicles.
