Shares in Virgin Galactic Holdings surged 13.8% after the Tustin-based company said its commercial space flights will start some time between June 27 and June 30.
The shares were trading at $4.62 each for a market cap of $1.3 billion as of 12:36 p.m. in New York.
“Galactic 01,’ a scientific research mission, will carry three crew members from the Italian Air Force and the National Research Council of Italy to conduct microgravity research,” the company said on its website.
Virgin Galactic added: “The second commercial spaceflight, ‘Galactic 02,’ will follow in early August 2023, with monthly spaceflights expected thereafter.”
