Virgin Galactic, a prominent player in the emerging space tourism industry, reported a significant 400% increase in revenue for the second quarter of 2023.

Despite achieving lower figures than analysts had projected, the company showcased its achievements following a successful private space flight in June, which marked a significant milestone.

Michael Colglazier, CEO of Virgin Galactic, highlighted the completion of two spaceflights in two months, including the launch of commercial service with a scientific research mission. The company plans to continue expanding access to space with monthly flights and remains committed to scaling the business and introducing commercial service with its Delta Class spaceships by 2026.

In the second quarter ending on June 30, revenue reached $2 million, reflecting growing demand for unique travel experiences like space travel. However, this figure fell slightly short of Wall Street’s expectations, which had forecasted revenue of $2.5 million.

Despite the revenue growth, operating losses widened to $139.6 million, compared to $109.7 million in the previous year. The company’s net income remained negative, with reported losses of $134 million for the quarter.

Virgin Galactic’s strong performance in its first-ever commercial space mission, where it successfully sent four Italians into suborbit and brought them back in 90 minutes, showcased its space jet’s capabilities. With commercial flights set to begin soon, analysts anticipate continued revenue growth, signaling the company’s transformation from a research and development experiment to a tangible player in the space travel market.