US space agency NASA has signed a deal with Virgin Galactic to charter a full suborbital flight, along with options for two additional flights.

The $4.5 million deal will allow NASA scientists to perform up to 1,300lbs of experiments in each mission.

Virgin Galactic, a joint venture between Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Aabar Investments PJS, is going to be the first commercial spaceline in the world.

Earlier this week, Virgin Galactic appointed former NASA executive Michael Moses as vice president of operations at Spaceport America, which is situated around 50 miles north of Las Cruces.

Mr. Moses retired from NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida after the US ditched its space shuttle program. He served the Kennedy Space Center as the launch integration manager from 2008 to July 2011.

Speaking on his decision to join Virgin Galactic, he said, “I couldn't just push paper around and write requirements for the next 10 years so I'm going to take another shot at it here in the commercial sector."

Virgin Galactic has plans to launch its first suborbital flight sometime in 2012 from Spaceport America in southern New Mexico.