Virgin Galactic built a spacecraft in Mesa
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The Virgin Galactic spacecraft in Mesa. Photo: Courtesy of Virgin Galactic
A Virgin Galactic spacecraft left Mesa Gateway — where it was built — to its permanent home at Spaceport America in New Mexico on Wednesday.
Driving the news: Apeiron is designed to carry passengers about 50 miles above Earth before gliding back to the ground.
- But it didn't fly to New Mexico on its own — a larger aircraft called Eve carried it.
Zoom in: The spacecraft's name, Apeiron, was chosen through a worldwide online poll.
- It's an ancient Greek term meaning "boundless."
By the numbers: Virgin Galactic's last batch of tickets for future trips to space sold out at $750,000 each, according to the company.
- The next round could cost more.
Catch up quick: Virgin Galactic in 2022 announced that commercial flights would begin in 2025 but the timeline is delayed, the company says.
What's next: Virgin Galactic expects commercial service by mid-2027.
🚀 Your turn: Would you leave Earth aboard the spaceship? Why or why not? And how much would you pay for the ride? Email your answer to [email protected].