Virgin Galactic (NYSE:SPCE) is a spaceflight company primarily engaged in the development and operation of suborbital space vehicles for commercial space tourism, scientific research, and future space logistics. The company designs, manufactures, and operates a fleet of reusable spacecraft under the SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnightTwo families, offering customers a unique opportunity to experience microgravity and view Earth from space. In addition to passenger flights, Virgin Galactic also pursues research missions and payload integration services for government and commercial clients seeking microgravity environments for experiments.
Founded in 2004 by Sir Richard Branson as part of the Virgin Group, Virgin Galactic emerged from the success of the Ansari X Prize–winning SpaceShipOne program developed by Scaled Composites. Over the years, the company has undertaken an extensive flight test program to validate its spaceflight systems, culminating in multiple powered test flights by its VSS UnitySpaceShipTwo vehicle. Listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker SPCE since late 2019, Virgin Galactic has secured hundreds of ticket reservations from customers spanning more than 60 countries.
The company’s manufacturing operations are based in Mojave, California, while flight operations are conducted from Spaceport America in New Mexico, the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport. Virgin Galactic has also announced plans to expand its commercial footprint by establishing additional spaceport facilities in collaboration with international partners, including projects in the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. This global approach aims to support a growing cadence of flights and broaden access to suborbital missions for both tourists and research payloads.
Virgin Galactic’s leadership team is led by Chief Executive Officer Michael Colglazier, who joined the company in 2020 after serving in senior roles at Disney Parks and Resorts. Under his guidance and with strategic oversight from Executive Chairman Sir Richard Branson, the company continues to focus on achieving routine commercial service, enhancing safety protocols, and scaling operations. With an emphasis on sustainability, innovation, and customer experience, Virgin Galactic seeks to establish space tourism as a regular commercial offering and pave the way for future space logistics and exploration endeavors.
