WASHINGTON (AFP) – US space company Virgin Galactic announced on Thursday it is exploring the possibility of opening a new base in Italy, potentially bringing suborbital flights to tourists in Europe for the first time.
Founded by British billionaire Richard Branson, the company is currently in a two-year hiatus to upgrade its fleet, following seven commercial flights to the edge of space from its US base at Spaceport America in New Mexico.
Virgin Galactic said it had signed an agreement with Italy’s ENAC civil aviation authority to study the feasibility of operating missions from Grottaglie Spaceport, located in the Puglia region of southern Italy.
“We are very thrilled at the prospect of Virgin Galactic customers looking out of their spaceship windows to witness firsthand the iconic boot of Italy from space,” CEO Michael Colglazier said during an event at the Italian embassy in Washington.
Phase one of the study would be completed in 2025 to assess Grottaglie’s airspace compatibility with Virgin Galactic’s requirements and flight profile, said a news release.
The second phase would consider regional workforce requirements and potential economic benefits to Italy and Puglia generated by “multiple spaceflights per week.”
“This work will lay the foundation for safe and sustainable commercial operation in Italy,” added ENAC deputy director general Fabio Nicolai.
Former NASA official Mike Moses who now oversees the company’s commercial spaceflight programme, indicated operations could commence four to five years from now.
