Press Release: https://www.virgingalactic.com/news/galactic-07-mission-launch-window-opens-june-8
ORANGE COUNTY, Calif.–(MAY 1, 2024) — Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPCE) today announced the ‘Galactic 07’ flight window will open Saturday, June 8, 2024. This will be the Company’s second spaceflight this year and 12th to date.
Virgin Galactic’s spaceship will again be converted into a suborbital science lab, with VSS Unity carrying an Axiom Space affiliated researcher astronaut who will conduct multiple human-tended experiments. In addition, Purdue University and UC Berkeley will have autonomous payloads on board, supported by NASA’s Flight Opportunities program. Virgin Galactic’s spaceship will again be converted into a suborbital science lab, with VSS Unity carrying an Axiom Space affiliated researcher astronaut who will conduct multiple human-tended experiments. In addition, Purdue University and UC Berkeley will have autonomous payloads on board, supported by . This mission showcases Virgin Galactic’s ability to provide a flexible microgravity research platform, benefiting further space exploration initiatives as well as innovations on Earth.. This mission showcases Virgin Galactic’s ability to provide a flexible microgravity research platform, benefiting further space exploration initiatives as well as innovations on Earth.
“Discovery and innovation are central to our mission at Virgin Galactic. We’re excited to build on our successful record of facilitating scientific experiments in suborbital space, and we look forward to continuing to expand our role in suborbital research going forward,” said Michael Colglazier, CEO of Virgin Galactic. “‘Galactic 07’ will also mark and celebrate VSS Unity’s final commercial flight – an exciting and historic turning point for the business as we dedicate our resources fully to the production of our next-generation Delta spaceships, on track for commercial service in 2026.”
The hybrid research and private astronaut crew of ‘Galactic 07’ will include:
- Astronaut 027 – Researcher Astronaut, Axiom Space (research and astronaut to be announced in the coming weeks)
- Astronaut 028 – Private Astronaut, California, USA
- Astronaut 029 – Private Astronaut, New York, USA
- Astronaut 030 – Private Astronaut, Italy
The Virgin Galactic crew will include:
- VSS Unity Commander Nicola Pecile and pilot Jameel Janjua
- VMS Eve Commander Andy Edgell and pilot C.J. Sturckow
The ‘Galactic 07’ autonomous rack-mounted research payloads will include a Purdue University experiment designed to study propellant slosh in fuel tanks of maneuvering spacecraft, as well as a UC Berkeley payload testing a new type of 3D printing. Virgin Galactic has flown payloads for NASA’s Flight Opportunities program since the Company’s first spaceflight in 2018 and was recently selected The ‘Galactic 07’ autonomous rack-mounted research payloads will include a Purdue University experiment designed to study propellant slosh in fuel tanks of maneuvering spacecraft, as well as a UC Berkeley payload testing a new type of 3D printing. Virgin Galactic has flown payloads for NASA’s Flight Opportunities program since the Company’s first spaceflight in 2018 and was recently by NASA as a contracted flight provider for the next five years. by NASA as a contracted flight provider for the next five years.
Galactic 07 will also include research and participation from Virgin Galactic partner Axiom Space.
“Axiom Space’s commitment to enabling access to space and providing opportunities for scientific discovery beyond Earth aligns closely with Virgin Galactic’s mission,” said Tejpaul Bhatia, chief revenue officer of Axiom Space. “We are very excited about this upcoming Galactic 07 flight; stay tuned for more on our groundbreaking research and astronaut participant as we get close to June 8th.”
Today’s announcement follows notification from the FAA that Virgin Galactic’s investigation into the cause of the alignment pin that detached from VMS Eve following the release of VSS Unity during the ‘Galactic 06’ mission on January 26th, 2024 is approved. The FAA has accepted Virgin Galactic’s final investigation report, as well as the corrective actions that have been made to enhance the retention mechanism of the pin and the addition of a secondary retention mechanism. Stay tuned to Virgin Galactic’s social channels for further updates.
About Virgin Galactic Virgin Galactic is an aerospace and space travel company, pioneering human spaceflight for private individuals and researchers with its advanced air and space vehicles. Scale and profitability are driven by next generation vehicles designed to be capable of bringing humans to space at an unprecedented frequency with an industry-leading cost structure.
You can find more information at https://www.virgingalactic.com/
BIO For Major Jameel Janjua
Major Jameel Janjua was born in Calgary, Alberta, and graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical and Materials Engineering, Class of 2000. He was awarded the Governor General’s medal as the top graduate. Upon graduation from RMC, Jameel was awarded a post-graduate scholarship from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) to complete a Master of Science (SM) degree in Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Following graduate school, Jameel completed his flying training in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and was selected for fighter pilot training. Fighter Lead in Training and Basic Fighter Pilot Training were conducted at Cold Lake, Alberta, where Major Janjua finished his CF-18 Hornet conversion as the top graduate, being awarded both the Colonel Ned Henderson and Captain Tristan de Konick Memorial Trophies. Major Janjua was then posted to 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron (TFS) in Bagotville, Quebec. During his front-line tour, Janjua participated in many missions for Op Noble Eagle, the defense of North America from strategic and asymmetric threats.
Major Janjua was selected to complete the prestigious Fighter Weapons Instructor Course (FWIC) in 2008, and was also selected as an instructor pilot for FWIC 2009. During this time, Jameel competed in the 2009 astronaut recruitment campaign for the Canadian Space Agency (CSA). Although not selected as one of the two new astronauts hired by the CSA, Janjua was however one of the final four candidates from a pool of 5,351 applicants.
Major Janjua was subsequently chosen to represent the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) as the exchange officer to the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) Tornado GR4. Notably, Major Janjua deployed on Op Herrick, the British contribution to NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Based in Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Janjua flew 40 combat missions in support of British, Canadian and other NATO troops.
Soon after returning from Afghanistan, Jameel found himself flying combat missions over Libya as part of Op Ellamy. Major Janjua deployed to southern Europe twice in support of Op Ellamy, flying a total of 43 combat missions. These missions were aimed at enforcing UN Security Council resolution 1973, to support and protect the civilian population of Libya.
In one calendar year, Major Janjua flew 83 combat missions and more than 400 combat hours, in two separate operations. Major Janjua served as the Officer Commanding (OC) Weapons at IX(B) Squadron, RAF. After returning to Canada, Jameel was selected for training as an experimental test pilot.
Jameel is a distinguished graduate of the United States Air Force (USAF) Test Pilot School (TPS), Course 13B, and was the recipient of the Liethen-Tittle Award as the top graduate. He was only the fourth Canadian to win this award in more than 70 years. Following TPS, Jameel commenced his tour as the Canadian Exchange Officer to 416 Flight Test Squadron at Edwards AFB, flying the F-16 Viper. His flight test and research efforts have been varied; with notable project experience involving enhanced flight controls, automatic collision avoidance, and the integration and testing of advanced weapons.
As the lead test pilot on the team of experts that advances automatic collision avoidance technologies in the USAF, Major Janjua is at the cutting edge of building upon state of the art technology that has already been credited with saving eight USAF F-16 aircraft and their pilots. The technology that his flight test team helps to improve saves lives. The innovative test methods that Jameel has helped develop are being used to test one of a kind, life saving aviation technologies that will be transitioned to other aircraft types and beyond.
Jameel also earned a qualification on the F-15SA Advanced Eagle. In addition to his duties as a F-16 instructor pilot and test pilot, he also participates in flight test activities with the F-15SA Combined Test Team, testing the world’s most advanced variant of the F-15 Eagle. Furthermore, Jameel is actively involved as a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP), where he serves on the Board of Directors.
Jameel is very active in SETP, presenting technical papers at national and international symposia. Jameel is interested in the potential cross-flow of ideas and best practices between military aviation and medicine. He has co-authored a paper titled Simulation and Augmented Reality in Endovascular Neurosurgery: Lessons from Aviation, which was published in Neurosurgery.
He is currently collaborating on a manuscript aimed at applying the briefing, debriefing, and lessons learned process from high performance military aviation to making surgery more efficient and enhancing educational training. Jameel is passionate about finding parallels where his experience as a combat-proven fighter pilot and test pilot can be applied to how other professionals achieve success in their fields. Jameel has 3,300 hours of flying experience in more than 35 aircraft, including having held captaincy on four front-line fighters: the F-15 Eagle, CF-18 Hornet, F-16 Viper, and Tornado GR4. He is one of only a handful of fighter pilots who are graduates of both the FWIC and TPS. Jameel is married to Sylvie Villeneuve and they have two young sons, Asher and Oliver.
To view a timeline of Jameel’s career click here: https://www.jameeljanjua.com/timeline