Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity space plane soared into sub-orbit on Thursday (November 2), marking the fifth commercial flight for the company and the sixth such flight for the reusable craft in the past half-year.

An open letter signed by more than 600 people has urged suborbital flight provider Virgin Galactic (NYSE: SPCE) to reduce spending and to lay off employees in order to conserve cash and raise the company’s low share price.

Virgin Galactic began crewed commercial suborbital flights after nearly two decades of development, Rocket Lab launched a suborbital version of its Electron rocket, and several other suborbital boosters made their maiden flights during the first nine months of 2023.

A new economic impact study has found that Spaceport America, a commercial spaceport located in New Mexico, contributed $138 million in economic output, $45.8 million in labor income, and $60.4 million in value-added production to the state’s economy in 2022.

Welcome to S-SPACⁱ! In this week’s edition, Virgin Galactic announced its next flight, Rocket Lab flew a used engine, Spire Global won a contract expansion, a new documentary chronicled Virgin Orbit’s final launch, and the latest news about Astra Space and Intuitive Machines.

Welcome to S-SPACⁱ! In this week’s edition, Rocket Lab announced a five-launch deal with BlackSky as it reported higher earnings, Virgin Galactic is on the eve of launching its first space tourists after lowering expectations on future earnings, Astra Space laid off a quarter of its employees as it pivoted to producing rocket engines, Planet Labs conducted layoffs of its own, and Momentus unveiled its first satellite bus.

The rise of SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic is opening up the thrills of riding rockets, floating in microgravity, and staring open-mouthed at spectacular views of Earth to those wealthy or lucky enough to book a flight. But while more private companies are flying individuals into space, governments around the world remain key to the success of commercial flight providers and future private space stations.

Virgin Galactic (NYSE: SPCE) capped off nearly 19 years of effort by flying its first commercial mission with paying customers from Spaceport American in New Mexico on Thursday (June 29). However, while the VSS Unity rocket plane soared into the heavens on a research flight, the company’s stock declined by almost 11 percent.

Welcome to S-SPACⁱ! In this week’s edition, shares of AST SpaceMobile plunged on a stock sale and questions about the company’s future, Virgin Galactic prepares for its first commercial crewed flight, Intuitive Machines filed to sell more stock, and the latest news about BlackSky, Intuitive Machines, Planet Labs, Redwire, Rocket Lab, Spire Global, and Terran Orbital.

Virgin Galactic will launch its first ever suborbital flight with paying customers on Thursday, June 29, when it launches three Italian researchers on the Galactic 01 mission.