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Virgin Galactic Sinks on Stock-Sale Plan After Branson Trip

  • Potential stock offering follows test-flight success on Sunday
  • Challenge is to move to regular launches in 2022, analyst says
Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity after detaching from VMS Eve on July 11.
Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity after detaching from VMS Eve on July 11.Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images
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Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc. filed to sell as much as $500 million in shares following a rocket-powered test flight by founder Richard Branson that won Wall Street praise as a “marketing coup.” 

The success of the hour-long mission to more than 50 miles (80 kilometers) above Earth boosted Virgin Galactic’s plan to start offering tourism trips next year. But the shares tumbled the most in almost seven months after the disclosure Monday of the potential stock sale, which suggested the company’s need for additional funds as it prepares its commercial debut.