Space tourism company Virgin Galactic (NYSE: SPCE) hasn't participated in the flight of the broader market since January. Shares are roughly flat in 2023 even as the S&P 500 soared 17%. Clearly, the company is in the early days of ramping up its commercial program, where people can purchase seats on upcoming flight missions -- and there's still a lot of work ahead.

Should investors be considering the stock now? Or is it better avoided? This Fool has broken down the numbers to illustrate a clear path forward for investors. Here is what you need to know.

Virgin Galactic is trying to capture the space tourism industry. For roughly $450,000, you can buy a ticket on one of the company's flight missions. Virgin Galactic uses a mothership to carry a passenger vessel to a high altitude, then releases it. The passenger ship then uses a rocket burst to reach its peak altitude before gliding back to the Earth's surface. It's a suborbital experience that produces a brief period of zero gravity.

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Source Fool.com