Virgin Galactic wants your help naming its new Delta class spaceship

# Virgin Galactic wants your help naming its new Delta class spaceship Source: [https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/08/virgin-galactic-wants-your-help-naming-its-new-delta-class-spaceship/](https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/08/virgin-galactic-wants-your-help-naming-its-new-delta-class-spaceship/) - ***Horizon***, as in Earth’s blue curve against the black of space\. - ***Explorer***, emphasizing the human yearning to discover and go farther\. - ***Ascend***, starting with a decision to rise through the ignition of the rocket\. - ***Apeiron***, an ancient Greek word meaning infinite, as in the view at apogee\. [Voting is open through August 27](https://www.virgingalactic.com/nameaspaceship)to everyone ages 13 and up\. “We encourage everyone… from lifelong space enthusiasts to those simply inspired by what’s possible, to participate,” reads a Virgin Galactic release\. “This is a rare chance to help shape a piece of spaceflight history and to be part of a moment that will inspire future explorers for years to come\. Cast your vote, share it with friends and family, and join us as we take another step toward opening space to more people than ever before\.” ## *Enterprise*,*Unity*,*Imagine*,*Inspire* [](https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/news-081226c-lg.jpg) Virgin Galactic’s soon\-to\-be\-christened Delta\-1 spaceship is towed from its assembly hangar to its test and launch hangar in Arizona in March 2026\. Credit: Virgin Galactic Virgin Galactic’s soon\-to\-be\-christened Delta\-1 spaceship is towed from its assembly hangar to its test and launch hangar in Arizona in March 2026\.Credit: Virgin Galactic The first SpaceShipTwo was christened*Enterprise*during its unveiling in 2009\. Selected in part to continue the tradition of using the word in the naming of Royal Navy, US Navy, NASA, and science fiction spacecraft, it was also a nod to the future role of private enterprise in the development of a spacefaring civilization\. Tragically, the VSS \(Virgin spaceship\)[*Enterprise*was lost](https://www.collectspace.com/news/news-103114b-spaceshiptwo-virgin-galactic-anomaly.html)on October 31, 2014, during its fourth powered test flight\. Co\-pilot Michael Alsbury was killed in the crash\. Peter Siebold, the pilot in command, survived but with major injuries\. Virgin Galactic returned to flight—and reached space for the first time—on its[second SpaceShipTwo, named*Unity*\.](https://www.collectspace.com/news/news-022016c-virgin-galactic-spaceshiptwo-unity.html)Sometimes referred to as VSS*Voyager*before the loss of*Enterprise*, the company chose*Unity*based on the messages of support that were received, urging them to continue in the wake of the disaster\. One of those messages was from astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, who had plans to fly to space on SpaceShipTwo\. “We are entering a new space age and I hope this will help to create a new unity,” Hawking wrote and later recorded for the audio to be played back at the ship’s unveiling\. “Space exploration has already been a great unifier—we seem able to cooperate between nations in space in a way we can only envy on Earth\.” In March 2021, four months before[*Unity*lifted off with Branson](https://www.collectspace.com/news/news-071121a-virgin-galactic-unity22-branson-mementos.html), Virgin Galactic[debuted VSS*Imagine*](https://www.collectspace.com/news/news-033021a-virgin-galactic-spaceship-iii-imagine.html), its first SpaceShip III\. Highlighted for its modular construction to ease servicing and new mirror\-like livery, it was originally intended to succeed SpaceShipTwo\. VSS*Inspire*was also announced as the next SpaceShip III to be built, but in 2024 development was canceled in favor of the Delta\-class design\.