Virgin Galactic sets first commercial space tourism flight

Virgin Galactic aims to launch a commercial space tourism service in late June.

Shares of the company were up more than 30% in extended trading Thursday.

Virgin Galactic said Thursday that the flight, dubbed Galactic 01, is targeting a launch window that opens June 27 and runs through June 30. Virgin Galactic then plans its second commercial flight in “early August” with “monthly” commercial flights thereafter.

Galactic 01 will carry three members of the Italian Air Force to conduct microgravity research with science payloads.

The company completed its final test spaceflight in May and said Thursday it had completed “routine analysis and vehicle inspections” of its VMS Eve carrier aircraft and VSS Unity spacecraft.

Virgin Galactic’s first commercial space flight was a long-awaited milestone for the company to begin raising its 800-passenger interchangeable fleet. The company was founded in 2004 by billionaire Richard Branson. Virgin Galactic’s launch in June will also begin to steer Virgin Galactic toward demonstrating its ability to regularly carry out commercial flights, which is crucial to its long-term success.

“We are launching Earth’s first commercial space line with two dynamic products – our science research and private astronaut missions,” Virgin Galactic CEO Michael Colglazier said in a statement.