Virgin Galactic returns Unity to flight to prepare for next-generation spaceplane

Virgin Galactic’s Unity spaceplane performs a glide flight above Spaceport America in New Mexico May 27. Credit: Virgin Galactic

AMSTERDAM — The Virgin Galactic spaceplane used for the company’s first commercial flights has returned to service to train its pilots for its next-generation spacecraft.

Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity spaceplane performed a glide flight May 27 after being released by the Eve aircraft in the skies above Spaceport America in New Mexico. Unity glided to a runway landing at the spaceport.

This was the first flight for Unity since its last commercial suborbital spaceflight in June 2024. Virgin decided to stop flying the vehicle to focus its resources on its new spaceplane, called SpaceShip, currently in development.

Virgin started flying Unity to provide proficiency training for its pilots as it prepares to begin flights of the first SpaceShip later this year, while also practicing ground operations.