Virgin Galactic Holdings, the space tourism firm founded by Richard Branson, said on Thursday its first commercial spaceflight would launch later this month, sending its shares up 28% in trading after the bell.

The spaceflight, called "Galactic 01", is planned for between June 27 and June 30, the company said.

"Galactic 02" will follow in early August, with monthly spaceflights expected thereafter, the space company said.

The first mission will carry three crew members from the Italian Air Force and the National Research Council of Italy to conduct microgravity research.

(Reporting by Chavi Mehta in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai and Krishna Chandra Eluri)