Virgin Galactic and the Air Force Research Laboratory Enter Agreement to Advance Space Weather Science
Business Wire•14/10/2026•08:00 ET
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Key Highlights
- ➤24-month CRADA with AFRL will evaluate Virgin Galactic’s next-generation Spaceship for space weather data collection
- ➤Virgin Galactic will integrate sensor systems aboard its next-generation Spaceship during flights
- ➤Agreement expands Virgin Galactic’s potential government and scientific research applications
- ➤Virgin Galactic signed a similar CRADA with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in December 2025
Expert Statements
Michael Colglazier, Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Galactic
“We are pleased to support the Air Force Research Laboratory with important data gathered from our new Spaceships, which have been created with flexibility to enable a wide array of research and data acquisition services.”
Michael Colglazier, Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Galactic
“This cooperative research and development agreement will help expand and identify new and additional opportunities for our growing fleet.”
Shaun Ard, Senior Research Chemist at the Air Force Research Laboratory
“Understanding space weather dynamics in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) depends on consistent, high-quality observational data, which has remained limited at scale.”
Shaun Ard, Senior Research Chemist at the Air Force Research Laboratory
“This collaboration gives our researchers access to a platform particularly well-suited to fill that gap, supporting efforts to protect and advance space-based systems essential to modern infrastructure and exploration.”
Virgin Galactic and the Air Force Research Laboratory Enter Agreement to Advance Space Weather Science
24-month research agreement with the AFRL's Space Warfare Directorate will evaluate Virgin Galactic’s next-generation spaceship as a platform for capturing space weather data
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