Virgin Galactic has announced its newest state-of-the-art spaceship manufacturing facility in Mesa, Greater Phoenix, Arizona after signing a long-term lease for a new facility that will serve as a final assembly venue of its next-generation Delta class spacecraft. According to Interesting Engineering, the revolutionary spaceship hub, by the aerospace and space travel company, will reportedly be creating hundreds of highly skilled jobs in the aerospace engineering and production field within the region, as well as increasing the company’s spacecraft manufacturing power by being able to produce up to six spacecraft annually.
Virgin Galactic’s Delta class spaceship is described by the company as a spacecraft built to fly once a week, helping the company reach its goal of 400 trips annually from Spaceport America. The first of these spacecraft is anticipated to start making money-making payload trips in late 2025, moving on to private astronaut flights in 2026, according to the company’s website.
According to the company’s latest update, the facility is expected to open in mid-2024. The company has previously stated that it is in the process of choosing several suppliers to construct the main subassemblies to expedite the manufacture of the Delta class spacecraft. After that, the parts will reportedly be brought to the Mesa location for last-minute assembly, with the finished spacecraft to be transferred to Spaceport America in New Mexico for flight testing and commercial use.
The Mesa plant will not only serve as a center for assembly but also use state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques supported by a digital twin architecture. With this technical strategy, Virgin Galactic and its suppliers should be able to collaborate seamlessly, guaranteeing real-time governance, coordination, and increased production efficiency and dependability.
Location-wise, the plant is strategically important, as it is situated halfway between the company’s current operations in Southern California and New Mexico, which is a key factor for innovation hub, according to Swami Iyer, President of Aerospace Systems at Virgin Galactic.
Following the company’s focus on its Delta class spaceship, Virgin Atlantic has also recently announced a planned reduction for both its workforce and expenses. Virgin Atlantic CEO Michael Colgazier stated that the reason for reductions were high interest rates and uncertainty in the market, increasing the pressure on businesses investing in the present in hopes of making returns later. Thus, in order to compete in this climate, it prompted the company to invest in its spaceships, with the workforce and expenses taking a hit in the process. Virgin Atlantic is focusing on completing its Delta program effectively amidst the uncertain market due to various factors that may impact their success.
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