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The
first spaceflight, called "Galactic 01", is planned between June
27 and June 30, the company said.
"Galactic 02" will follow in early August, with monthly
spaceflights expected thereafter, the company said.
Shares of Virgin Galactic had lost over two-thirds of their
value last year due to delays in the company's launch of
commercial service. Shares were up at $6.30 in aftermarket
trading on Thursday.
The company had suspended flights of the spaceplane VSS Unity
and its carrier plane in 2021 to make various spacecraft
enhancements, delaying its debut customer mission to the edge of
space.
But in February, it said it had completed a lengthy upgrade
period for its centerpiece tourist spacecraft, clearing the path
for its first commercial spaceflight. Shares of the company have
risen about 16% so far in 2023.
The first commercial mission will carry three crew members from
the Italian Air Force and the National Research Council of Italy
to conduct microgravity research, Virgin Galactic said.
(Reporting by Chavi Mehta in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai
and Krishna Chandra Eluri)
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