Virgin Galactic books Italian Space Agency for planned 2019 flights

The Associated Press
December 18, 2017 10:16 PM

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Virgin Galactic is expressing more optimism that it will finally launch suborbital flights out of southern New Mexico.

The New Mexico Economic Development Department tweeted that Virgin Galactic will launch members of the Italian Space Agency from Spaceport America in 2019.

Last month, Virgin Galactic said it will move more of its operations to New Mexico next year. It has spent the last 13 years working to make commercial spaceflights a reality.

.@virgingalactic announced today the Italian Space Agency (ASI) will secure a full suborbital flight on Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo. This spaceflight mission is planned to take place in 2019 at @Spaceport_NM! pic.twitter.com/DuyRqaVmdN
— NM Economic Dev. (@NM_econ_dev) December 18, 2017