Modification, Testing, Needed Before Italian Air Force Mission
Virgin Galactic will take time from their projected launch schedule for the upcoming Unity 23 flight to begin an enhancement program for VMS Eve and VSS Unity. As part of their continuing quality assessments, material testing returned data outside of planned specifications, specifically a reduction in the strength margins of materials used in a number of joints in the aircraft. As a result, the projected launch for Unity 23 has been postponed, and commercial service of the aircraft tentatively expected in the 4th quarter of 2022.