Virgin Galactic Announces First Commercial Research Mission
September 02 2021 - 9:30AM
Business Wire
“Unity 23” Test Flight Will Mark First Research
Customer Mission
Partnership with Italian Air Force Marks First
Mission of Its Kind led by European Country
Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPCE) (the “Company” or
“Virgin Galactic”), a vertically integrated aerospace and space
travel company, today announced the manifest for the next
rocket-powered test flight of SpaceShipTwo Unity from Spaceport
America, which will be the first commercial, human-tended research
mission for the Company.
The “Unity 23” mission will be the 23rd flight for VSS Unity and
will carry three paying crew members from the Italian Air Force and
the National Research Council. The goal of the mission is to
evaluate and measure the effects of the transitional phase from
gravity to microgravity on the human body. Other payloads on board
will study the effect of the microgravity environment on a range of
chemical and physical properties. By testing and evaluating
physiological and technological responses in sub-orbital flight,
the mission aims to produce insights relevant to current and future
spaceflight systems and technologies.
The crew will be:
- Col. Walter Villadei, Italian Air Force. Col. Villadei, a space
engineer and cosmonaut, will serve as mission lead, tending to the
rack-mounted payloads during the weightless portion of the flight.
He will wear a cutting-edge smart suit, incorporating Italian
fashion style and technology, to measure his biometric data and
physiological responses.
- Lt. Col. Angelo Landolfi, Physician, Italian Air Force. Lt.
Col. Landolfi will conduct tests measuring cognitive performance in
microgravity. In addition, he will activate syringe payloads from
his seat to investigate how certain liquids and solids mix in
microgravity.
- Pantaleone Carlucci, Aerospace Engineer and National Research
Council researcher. Mr. Carlucci will wear sensors that examine
heart rate, brain function and other human performance metrics in
microgravity.
- Beth Moses, Chief Astronaut Instructor, Virgin Galactic. Ms.
Moses will serve as cabin lead in space, calling out key mission
phases and cabin instructions and overseeing the safe and efficient
execution of the flight timeline. She will not interact directly
with the Italian experiments.
The pilots for this mission are Michael Masucci and CJ Sturckow
flying VSS Unity and Nicola Pecile and Kelly Latimer flying VMS
Eve.
The Company is targeting a flight window in late September or
early October 2021, pending technical checks and weather. Audiences
around the world will be invited to participate virtually in the
Unity 23 flight and witness the commercial research mission with
the Italian Air Force through a live stream available on
VirginGalactic.com.
Michael Colglazier, Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Galactic,
said: “Being selected by the Italian Air Force to support their
microgravity research is a testament to the unique scientific
capabilities of our spaceflight system. We’re proud to be
facilitating cooperation between spacefaring nations and industry
pioneers to expand human knowledge, and demonstrate the intrinsic
value of our offering to government and scientific partners. This
flight will be remembered as an important milestone in unlocking
the transformative potential of repeatable and reliable access to
space for years to come.”
Sirisha Bandla, Head of Virgin Galactic Research and Vice
President of Government Affairs, said: “The commercial space
industry is providing scientific opportunities that were
unthinkable a decade ago. By offering routine access to space, with
a flight profile that can be tailored to the payloads on board, we
are offering novel prospects for researchers to conduct
microgravity science and technology development. We’re proud to be
ushering in a new era in human-tended spaceflight research and
helping the Italian Air Force build on their 60-year legacy in
space innovation.”
Lieutenant General Alberto Rosso, Chief of Staff of the Italian
Air Force, said: “The Italian Air Force has always placed great
importance on the understanding of space and aerospace. Aerospace
is the natural operational extension of our institutional duty.
Strength in this domain is an asset for the Country and is critical
to its protection and safety, which is why the Air Force places
great emphasis on further deepening its knowledge. With this
mission, the Italian Air Force aims to start exploring potential
implementations for this kind of vehicle - both civilian and
military - and to further opportunities for technological,
scientific and industrial growth. We are thrilled to entrust this
important mission to a flight pioneer such as Virgin Galactic.”
You can download all press materials including images and
broll from the Virgin Galactic Press Assets
About Virgin Galactic Holdings
Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. is a vertically integrated
aerospace and space travel company, pioneering human spaceflight
for private individuals and researchers with its advanced air and
space vehicles. It is developing a spaceflight system designed to
connect the world to the wonder and awe created by space travel and
to offer customers a transformative experience. You can find more
information at https://www.virgingalactic.com/
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements
within the meaning of federal securities laws with respect to
Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (the "Company"), including
statements regarding the Company’s spaceflight systems, markets and
expected flight schedule. These forward-looking statements
generally are identified by words such as “believe,” “project,”
“expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,”
“opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” and
similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions,
projections and other statements about future events that are based
on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are
subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual
future events to differ materially from the forward-looking
statements in this press release, including but not limited to the
factors, risks and uncertainties included in Amendment No. 2 to our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2020, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"),
accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and the Investor
Relations section of our website at www.virgingalactic.com. These
filings identify and address other important risks and
uncertainties that could cause the Company’s actual events and
results to differ materially from those contained in the
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only
as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put
undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and, except as
required by law, the Company assumes no obligation and does not
intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events, or
otherwise.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210902005219/en/
For media inquiries: Aleanna Crane - Vice President
Communications Virgingalacticpress@virgingalactic.com +1 575 800
4422
For Investor Relations inquiries: Seth Zaslow - Vice
President Investor Relations seth.zaslow@virgingalactic.com +1 714
732 4780
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