Virgin Galactic unveiled Apeiron on October 28, 2026, and moved the spacecraft from Arizona to Spaceport America beneath its carrier aircraft, Eve. Apeiron stayed attached throughout the trip, making it a captive transfer rather than an independent powered flight. Virgin Galactic reported that Eve departed Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport at 10:29 a.m. MST and arrived at Spaceport America at 12:59 p.m. MDT. The company’s announcement identified Michael Masucci as pilot in command, Dan Alix as pilot and Tori Crichton as flight-test engineer aboard Eve.
Apeiron’s transfer to Spaceport America
Virgin Galactic revealed Apeiron in its completed livery at its Mesa, Arizona, factory before the transfer. The spacecraft then traveled beneath Eve from Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport to the company’s New Mexico base.
What remains before passenger service
In its October 28 announcement, Virgin Galactic said avionics software integration and validation, along with a flight-test program, remained before commercial operations. On October 26, the company said it had revised its expected schedule to allow additional time for avionics integration and validation. (Virgin Galactic’s October 26 update
Virgin Galactic expected passenger service aboard Apeiron in early Q2 2027, conditional on successful flight tests. That is a forecast, not a completed service milestone.
Virgin Galactic expects the second spacecraft later
Virgin Galactic said assembly of the static test article and second spacecraft was underway, and that it was preparing a rocket-motor assembly line. The company expected the second spacecraft to begin commercial operations in late Q2 or early Q3 2027, after Apeiron’s forecast early-Q2 start.
