Virgin Galactic has named its first Delta-class spaceship Apeiron, choosing an ancient Greek term meaning “boundless” for the vehicle intended to restart its commercial space tourism operations. The name emerged from a public vote that attracted thousands of responses from 83 countries across six continents.

Designed to carry six private passengers, Apeiron is expected to enter commercial service in early Q2 2027 from Spaceport America in New Mexico. It will succeed VSS Unity, which completed its final commercial flight in June 2024, as Virgin Galactic works toward a fleet capable of flying more frequently.

Chief executive Michael Colglazier said the name reflects the ambition of human spaceflight and the possibilities it creates for people drawn to exploring beyond familiar limits.

Apeiron’s cabin increases passenger capacity from Unity’s four seats to six. That gives Virgin Galactic two additional paying seats on each flight, expanding capacity without requiring a separate launch. The spacecraft will follow the company’s established air launch approach. Its carrier aircraft, Eve, will lift it to roughly 50,000 feet before releasing it. Apeiron will then ignite its rocket motor and climb toward suborbital space.

Passengers will experience a brief period of weightlessness before the spacecraft returns through the atmosphere and glides to a runway landing. The journey remains suborbital, meaning Apeiron will return to Earth without completing an orbit. 

The central change is the vehicle intended to deliver that experience, with additional seats and a design aimed at supporting repeated operations.

Virgin Galactic says each Delta class spaceship is designed to support up to eight flights a month.

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