Virgin Galactic Signs Agreement With Axiom Space for Microgravity Research
November 03 2022 - 06:45AM
Business Wire
Axiom Astronaut to Conduct Research and Train
for International Space Station on Future Virgin Galactic
Flight
Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPCE) (the “Company” or
“Virgin Galactic”), an aerospace and space travel company, today
announced an agreement with Axiom Space, a U.S.-based commercial
space company, to support a microgravity research and training
mission. The Virgin Galactic spaceflight, tentatively scheduled for
next year, will prepare an Axiom Space astronaut for an upcoming
trip to orbit, while conducting microgravity research to supplement
the work they will do on the International Space Station.
Virgin Galactic has a deep commitment to providing opportunities
for research and scientific exploration in a suborbital space
environment. Its pilot-controlled parabolic trajectory from a
horizontal launch configuration can be adjusted to the specific
needs of the payloads on board, making Virgin Galactic uniquely
suited to fly both autonomous and human-tended experiments. The
Company has flown research experiments on all previous spaceflights
and is reserving 10 percent of its first 1,000 seats for science
and technology research missions.
“Our spaceflight system offers a unique opportunity for
research, and we’ve seen interest from a range of scientific and
technology domains spanning from heliophysics to biological and
physical life sciences,” said Virgin Galactic Vice President of
Government Affairs and Research Operations, Sirisha Bandla. “We are
excited to work with Axiom Space as we continue to expand the
ecosystem for microgravity research and build a pipeline for Virgin
Galactic missions to support orbital space travel. Our commitment
to research deepens our connection to planet Earth, enabling
humanity to broaden our understanding of Earth and our place on
it.”
Axiom Space is the commercial space industry’s only full-service
orbital mission provider to the International Space Station,
conducting full-service, end-to-end crewed missions for private
astronauts, including both private individuals and those
representing foreign governments. Axiom Space is expanding the
international community of space explorers, helping to build human
spaceflight programs, while building a permanent commercial space
station in low-Earth’s orbit. Axiom Space has several partnerships
with sovereign nations to expand their space capabilities including
Turkey, Italy, Hungary and the United Arab Emirates.
“Our shared vision with Virgin Galactic to further enable human
space exploration, increase scientific discovery and expand the
international space explorer footprint makes this a great
partnership,” said Axiom Space Chief Astronaut, Michael
López-Alegría. “Virgin Galactic’s platform offers an incredible
resource for future Axiom astronauts as they prepare for longer
duration missions.”
About Virgin Galactic Holdings
Virgin Galactic is an 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/.
About Axiom Space
Axiom Space is guided by the vision of a thriving home in space
that benefits every human everywhere. The leading provider of human
spaceflight services and developer of human-rated space
infrastructure, Axiom operates end-to-end missions to the
International Space Station today while privately building its
successor, Axiom Station, the first permanent commercial
destination in Earth's orbit that will sustain human growth off the
planet and bring untold benefits back home.
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 our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, 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/20221103005596/en/
For media inquiries: Aleanna Crane – Vice President
Communications virgingalacticpress@virgingalactic.com 575.800.4422
Jeff Michael – Communications Specialist 661.754.4300 For
Investor Relations inquiries: Eric Cerny – Vice President
Investor Relations VG-IR@virgingalactic.com
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