{"success":true,"data":{"pressRelease":{"id":"168784","rtpr_id":"nBwWsL1Wa-20261014","ticker":"SPCE","exchange":"NYSE","all_tickers":["SPCE"],"title":"Virgin Galactic and the Air Force Research Laboratory Enter Agreement to Advance Space Weather Science","author":"Business Wire","published_at":"2026-10-14T12:00:00.694Z","article_body":"Virgin Galactic and the Air Force Research Laboratory Enter Agreement to\nAdvance Space Weather Science\n\n24-month research agreement with the AFRL's Space Warfare Directorate will\nevaluate Virgin Galactic’s next-generation spaceship as a platform for\ncapturing space weather data\n\nVirgin Galactic (NYSE: SPCE), a leader in commercial spaceflight and advanced\naerospace technology, today announced a Cooperative Research and Development\nAgreement (CRADA) with the Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) Space\nWarfare Directorate at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico — the Department\nof the Air Force's primary organization for space environment research and\ntechnology development. The 24-month agreement will explore the use of Virgin\nGalactic's next-generation Spaceship to capture space weather data and\naccelerate understanding of its effects on space-based infrastructure.\n\nUnder the agreement, researchers will evaluate the integration of sensor\nsystems with Virgin Galactic’s next-generation Spaceship to collect space\nweather data during flight.\n\n“We are pleased to support the Air Force Research Laboratory with important\ndata gathered from our new Spaceships, which have been created with\nflexibility to enable a wide array of research and data acquisition\nservices,” said Michael Colglazier, Chief Executive Officer of Virgin\nGalactic. “This cooperative research and development agreement will help\nexpand and identify new and additional opportunities for our growing fleet.”\n\nDr. Shaun Ard, Senior Research Chemist at AFRL, added: “Understanding space\nweather dynamics in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) depends on\nconsistent, high-quality observational data, which has remained limited at\nscale. This collaboration gives our researchers access to a platform\nparticularly well-suited to fill that gap, supporting efforts to protect and\nadvance space-based systems essential to modern infrastructure and\nexploration.”\n\nVirgin Galactic signed\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fusg02.safelinks.protection.office365.us%2F%3Furl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Furldefense.us%252Fv3%252F__https%253A%252F%252Finvestors.virgingalactic.com%252Fnews%252Fnews-details%252F2025%252FVirgin-Galactic-Partners-with-Lawrence-Livermore-National-Laboratory-to-Advance-High-Altitude-Image-Capture-Technology%252Fdefault.aspx__%253B%21%21G2kpM7uM-TzIFchu%21zEjksR9Nal676816DGptTnXBwL2TcmmfLf8N2Ii1h4gkzIoJZdU3vrQyjvGs84n2gHsg8zek6BKlOWcH_93GzaUlAijpM-9nRg%2524%26data%3D05%257C02%257Cjenny.kim%2540virgingalactic.com%257Cfce2e1ad54314c7bfe3c08def6efb365%257Ca9008a03b053484687d345880ffa31a1%257C0%257C0%257C639219706525713842%257CUnknown%257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%253D%253D%257C0%257C%257C%257C%26sdata%3D2tiPd5zF17Ipp%252FMte5IHytvpizpCcQgLoSqr%252FChO8F4%253D%26reserved%3D0&esheet=54621585&newsitemid=20261014197063&lan=en-US&anchor=signed&index=1&md5=a20bcc4533865f68923f72122f50474d)\na similar CRADA with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in December 2025.\nUnder that agreement, Virgin Galactic and LLNL are assessing the use of sensor\nsystems aboard Virgin Galactic’s launch vehicle with the aim of gathering\ndata and accelerating the development of next-generation high-altitude\nimage-capture capabilities.\n\nAbout Virgin Galactic\n\nVirgin Galactic is an aerospace and space travel company that enables safe,\nrepeatable commercial human spaceflight and high-altitude scientific\ndiscovery. With its advanced air-launch vehicles and industry-leading cost\nstructure, the company is preparing to take humans and research instruments to\nspace at an unprecedented rate, creating transformative personal experiences\nand supporting advanced suborbital study and strategic government initiatives.\nYou can find more information at https://www.virgingalactic.com.\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.virgingalactic.com%2F&esheet=54621585&newsitemid=20261014197063&lan=en-US&anchor=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.virgingalactic.com.&index=2&md5=33cf1722a9af5c5ac0edcaf118fb7b26)\n\nAbout the AFRL Space Warfare Directorate\n\nThe Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is the Department of the Air\nForce’s primary scientific research and development center and one of six\ncenters within Air Force Materiel Command. AFRL leads the discovery,\ndevelopment and delivery of technologies for air, space and the multidomain.\nWith a workforce spanning seven mission areas at more than 40 locations\nworldwide, AFRL conducts research ranging from basic science to advanced\ntechnology development. For more information, visit: www.afresearchlab.com.\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.afresearchlab.com%2F&esheet=54621585&newsitemid=20261014197063&lan=en-US&anchor=www.afresearchlab.com.&index=3&md5=3839f559bf2c21b0f7dec60be5351593)\n\nForward-Looking Statements\n\nThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of\nthe Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Virgin Galactic intends\nsuch forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions\nfor forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act\nof 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) and Section 21E of the Securities\nExchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). All statements contained\nin this press release other than statements of historical fact, including,\nwithout limitation, statements regarding Virgin Galactic’s agreement with\nAFRL, including plans to evaluate the exterior of Virgin Galactic’s\nnext-generation vehicle as a platform to capture space weather data, Virgin\nGalactic’s ability to accelerate understanding of space weather and its\neffects on space-based infrastructure, Virgin Galactic’s plans to expand the\nrole of its platforms in high-impact government and scientific missions, and\nVirgin Galactic’s partnership with LLNL and its plans to assess the use of\nsensor systems to gather data and accelerate the development of\nnext-generation high-altitude image-capture capabilities are forward-looking\nstatements. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,”\n“potential,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,”\n“strategy,” “future,” “could,” “would,” “project,”\n“plan,” “target,” and similar expressions are intended to identify\nforward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements use\nthese words or expressions. These statements are neither promises nor\nguarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other\nimportant factors that may cause Virgin Galactic’s actual results,\nperformance or achievements to be materially different from any future\nresults, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the\nforward-looking statements, including but not limited to any delay in future\ncommercial flights of Virgin Galactic’s spaceflight fleet, its ability to\nsuccessfully develop and test its next generation vehicles, and the time and\ncosts associated with doing so, and the factors, risks and uncertainties\nincluded in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December\n31, 2025, as such factors may be updated from time to time in its other\nfilings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), accessible on\nthe SEC’s website at www.sec.gov\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sec.gov%2F&esheet=54621585&newsitemid=20261014197063&lan=en-US&anchor=www.sec.gov&index=4&md5=282b7a3a8a2f300cb93f1f6fea2e6f47)\nand the Investor Relations section of Virgin Galactic’s website at\nwww.virgingalactic.com,\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.virgingalactic.com%2F&esheet=54621585&newsitemid=20261014197063&lan=en-US&anchor=www.virgingalactic.com%2C&index=5&md5=7b39ea4990baaab455d8e0f61450f550)\nwhich could cause its actual results to differ materially from those indicated\nby the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such\nforward-looking statements represent management’s estimates as of the date\nof this press release. While Virgin Galactic may elect to update such\nforward-looking statements at some point in the future, it disclaims any\nobligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause its views to change.\n\n\n\nView source version on businesswire.com:\nhttps://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261014197063/en/\n(https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261014197063/en/)\n\nFor media inquiries:\n\nAleanna Crane – Vice President, Communications\n\nnews@virgingalactic.com (mailto:news@virgingalactic.com)\n\n\nCopyright Business Wire 2026","article_body_html":"","raw_payload":{"data":{"id":"nBwWsL1Wa-20261014","title":"Virgin Galactic and the Air Force Research Laboratory Enter Agreement to Advance Space Weather Science","author":"Business Wire","ticker":"SPCE","created":"2026-10-14T12:00:00.694Z","tickers":["SPCE"],"exchange":"NYSE","article_body":"Virgin Galactic and the Air Force Research Laboratory Enter Agreement to\nAdvance Space Weather Science\n\n24-month research agreement with the AFRL's Space Warfare Directorate will\nevaluate Virgin Galactic’s next-generation spaceship as a platform for\ncapturing space weather data\n\nVirgin Galactic (NYSE: SPCE), a leader in commercial spaceflight and advanced\naerospace technology, today announced a Cooperative Research and Development\nAgreement (CRADA) with the Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) Space\nWarfare Directorate at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico — the Department\nof the Air Force's primary organization for space environment research and\ntechnology development. The 24-month agreement will explore the use of Virgin\nGalactic's next-generation Spaceship to capture space weather data and\naccelerate understanding of its effects on space-based infrastructure.\n\nUnder the agreement, researchers will evaluate the integration of sensor\nsystems with Virgin Galactic’s next-generation Spaceship to collect space\nweather data during flight.\n\n“We are pleased to support the Air Force Research Laboratory with important\ndata gathered from our new Spaceships, which have been created with\nflexibility to enable a wide array of research and data acquisition\nservices,” said Michael Colglazier, Chief Executive Officer of Virgin\nGalactic. “This cooperative research and development agreement will help\nexpand and identify new and additional opportunities for our growing fleet.”\n\nDr. Shaun Ard, Senior Research Chemist at AFRL, added: “Understanding space\nweather dynamics in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) depends on\nconsistent, high-quality observational data, which has remained limited at\nscale. This collaboration gives our researchers access to a platform\nparticularly well-suited to fill that gap, supporting efforts to protect and\nadvance space-based systems essential to modern infrastructure and\nexploration.”\n\nVirgin Galactic signed\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fusg02.safelinks.protection.office365.us%2F%3Furl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Furldefense.us%252Fv3%252F__https%253A%252F%252Finvestors.virgingalactic.com%252Fnews%252Fnews-details%252F2025%252FVirgin-Galactic-Partners-with-Lawrence-Livermore-National-Laboratory-to-Advance-High-Altitude-Image-Capture-Technology%252Fdefault.aspx__%253B%21%21G2kpM7uM-TzIFchu%21zEjksR9Nal676816DGptTnXBwL2TcmmfLf8N2Ii1h4gkzIoJZdU3vrQyjvGs84n2gHsg8zek6BKlOWcH_93GzaUlAijpM-9nRg%2524%26data%3D05%257C02%257Cjenny.kim%2540virgingalactic.com%257Cfce2e1ad54314c7bfe3c08def6efb365%257Ca9008a03b053484687d345880ffa31a1%257C0%257C0%257C639219706525713842%257CUnknown%257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%253D%253D%257C0%257C%257C%257C%26sdata%3D2tiPd5zF17Ipp%252FMte5IHytvpizpCcQgLoSqr%252FChO8F4%253D%26reserved%3D0&esheet=54621585&newsitemid=20261014197063&lan=en-US&anchor=signed&index=1&md5=a20bcc4533865f68923f72122f50474d)\na similar CRADA with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in December 2025.\nUnder that agreement, Virgin Galactic and LLNL are assessing the use of sensor\nsystems aboard Virgin Galactic’s launch vehicle with the aim of gathering\ndata and accelerating the development of next-generation high-altitude\nimage-capture capabilities.\n\nAbout Virgin Galactic\n\nVirgin Galactic is an aerospace and space travel company that enables safe,\nrepeatable commercial human spaceflight and high-altitude scientific\ndiscovery. With its advanced air-launch vehicles and industry-leading cost\nstructure, the company is preparing to take humans and research instruments to\nspace at an unprecedented rate, creating transformative personal experiences\nand supporting advanced suborbital study and strategic government initiatives.\nYou can find more information at https://www.virgingalactic.com.\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.virgingalactic.com%2F&esheet=54621585&newsitemid=20261014197063&lan=en-US&anchor=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.virgingalactic.com.&index=2&md5=33cf1722a9af5c5ac0edcaf118fb7b26)\n\nAbout the AFRL Space Warfare Directorate\n\nThe Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is the Department of the Air\nForce’s primary scientific research and development center and one of six\ncenters within Air Force Materiel Command. AFRL leads the discovery,\ndevelopment and delivery of technologies for air, space and the multidomain.\nWith a workforce spanning seven mission areas at more than 40 locations\nworldwide, AFRL conducts research ranging from basic science to advanced\ntechnology development. For more information, visit: www.afresearchlab.com.\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.afresearchlab.com%2F&esheet=54621585&newsitemid=20261014197063&lan=en-US&anchor=www.afresearchlab.com.&index=3&md5=3839f559bf2c21b0f7dec60be5351593)\n\nForward-Looking Statements\n\nThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of\nthe Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Virgin Galactic intends\nsuch forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions\nfor forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act\nof 1933, as amended (the Securities Act) and Section 21E of the Securities\nExchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). All statements contained\nin this press release other than statements of historical fact, including,\nwithout limitation, statements regarding Virgin Galactic’s agreement with\nAFRL, including plans to evaluate the exterior of Virgin Galactic’s\nnext-generation vehicle as a platform to capture space weather data, Virgin\nGalactic’s ability to accelerate understanding of space weather and its\neffects on space-based infrastructure, Virgin Galactic’s plans to expand the\nrole of its platforms in high-impact government and scientific missions, and\nVirgin Galactic’s partnership with LLNL and its plans to assess the use of\nsensor systems to gather data and accelerate the development of\nnext-generation high-altitude image-capture capabilities are forward-looking\nstatements. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,”\n“potential,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,”\n“strategy,” “future,” “could,” “would,” “project,”\n“plan,” “target,” and similar expressions are intended to identify\nforward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements use\nthese words or expressions. These statements are neither promises nor\nguarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other\nimportant factors that may cause Virgin Galactic’s actual results,\nperformance or achievements to be materially different from any future\nresults, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the\nforward-looking statements, including but not limited to any delay in future\ncommercial flights of Virgin Galactic’s spaceflight fleet, its ability to\nsuccessfully develop and test its next generation vehicles, and the time and\ncosts associated with doing so, and the factors, risks and uncertainties\nincluded in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December\n31, 2025, as such factors may be updated from time to time in its other\nfilings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), accessible on\nthe SEC’s website at www.sec.gov\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sec.gov%2F&esheet=54621585&newsitemid=20261014197063&lan=en-US&anchor=www.sec.gov&index=4&md5=282b7a3a8a2f300cb93f1f6fea2e6f47)\nand the Investor Relations section of Virgin Galactic’s website at\nwww.virgingalactic.com,\n(https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.virgingalactic.com%2F&esheet=54621585&newsitemid=20261014197063&lan=en-US&anchor=www.virgingalactic.com%2C&index=5&md5=7b39ea4990baaab455d8e0f61450f550)\nwhich could cause its actual results to differ materially from those indicated\nby the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such\nforward-looking statements represent management’s estimates as of the date\nof this press release. While Virgin Galactic may elect to update such\nforward-looking statements at some point in the future, it disclaims any\nobligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause its views to change.\n\n\n\nView source version on businesswire.com:\nhttps://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261014197063/en/\n(https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261014197063/en/)\n\nFor media inquiries:\n\nAleanna Crane – Vice President, Communications\n\nnews@virgingalactic.com (mailto:news@virgingalactic.com)\n\n\nCopyright Business Wire 2026"},"type":"article","timestamp":"2026-10-14T12:00:00.825673519Z","server_sent_at_ms":1791979200825},"received_at":"2026-10-14T12:00:00.876Z","source_url":"https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261014197063/en/"},"analysis":{"id":"157041","press_release_id":"168784","analysis_json":{"industry":{"label":"Aerospace & Defense","sector":"Industrials"},"redFlags":[],"eventType":"partnership","narrative":"Virgin Galactic signed a 24-month Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Warfare Directorate to evaluate its next-generation Spaceship as a platform for capturing space weather data.\n\nResearchers will assess integration of sensor systems aboard the new Spaceship to study space weather effects on space-based infrastructure, building on a similar CRADA with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory signed in December 2025.\n\nThe deal carries no disclosed financial terms, but adds a second government research partnership supporting the research-services potential of the upcoming fleet.","sentiment":"bullish","agentHooks":{"shouldPost":false,"suggestedAngle":"Second government CRADA validates SPCE's research-platform pivot, though no revenue attached."},"keyFigures":{"customDimensions":{"agreement_duration_months":24}},"quotedText":"This cooperative research and development agreement will help expand and identify new and additional opportunities for our growing fleet","namedEntities":{"people":[{"name":"Michael Colglazier","role":"CEO of Virgin Galactic"},{"name":"Dr. Shaun Ard","role":"Senior Research Chemist at AFRL"}],"products":["next-generation Spaceship"],"companies":[{"name":"Virgin Galactic","ticker":"SPCE","relationship":"filer"},{"name":"Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Space Warfare Directorate","relationship":"partner"},{"name":"Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory","relationship":"prior CRADA partner"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"materialImpact":{"score":2,"reasoning":"A 24-month CRADA with the Air Force Research Laboratory is a positive credibility signal for the next-generation Spaceship's research platform potential, but it is a research agreement with no disclosed revenue, contract value, or near-term financial impact."},"tickerRelevance":{"others":[],"primary":"SPCE"},"globalImportance":25,"audienceRelevance":35,"eventTypeSecondary":["operations_update"],"importanceComponents":{"tickerTier":"small-cap retail favorite","eventGravity":"non-revenue research agreement","householdBrandBoost":"Virgin Galactic brand recognition","retailFavoriteBoost":true}},"event_type":"partnership","event_type_secondary":["operations_update"],"sentiment":"bullish","material_impact_score":2,"narrative":"Virgin Galactic signed a 24-month Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the Air Force Research Laboratory's Space Warfare Directorate to evaluate its next-generation Spaceship as a platform for capturing space weather data.\n\nResearchers will assess integration of sensor systems aboard the new Spaceship to study space weather effects on space-based infrastructure, building on a similar CRADA with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory signed in December 2025.\n\nThe deal carries no disclosed financial terms, but adds a second government research partnership supporting the research-services potential of the upcoming fleet.","key_figures":{"customDimensions":{"agreement_duration_months":24}},"named_entities":{"people":[{"name":"Michael Colglazier","role":"CEO of Virgin Galactic"},{"name":"Dr. Shaun Ard","role":"Senior Research Chemist at AFRL"}],"products":["next-generation Spaceship"],"companies":[{"name":"Virgin Galactic","ticker":"SPCE","relationship":"filer"},{"name":"Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Space Warfare Directorate","relationship":"partner"},{"name":"Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory","relationship":"prior CRADA partner"}],"dollarAmounts":[]},"model_name":"glm-5.3-flashx","prompt_hash":"sha256:5c812bd9e28b810d","schema_hash":"sha256:05005c02d9cffac9","created_at":"2026-10-14T12:00:10.014Z","global_importance":25,"audience_relevance":35,"importance_components":{"tickerTier":"small-cap retail favorite","eventGravity":"non-revenue research agreement","householdBrandBoost":"Virgin Galactic brand recognition","retailFavoriteBoost":true}},"durationMs":5056,"modelName":"glm-5.3-flashx"}}