This qualifies as a current event, and big deal too...
Originally posted by The Guardian on 9/27/04Sir Richard Branson today announced that he had signed a licensing deal to create a fleet of spacecraft offering commercial flights to space by 2007-8. Speaking at the launch of Virgin Galactic Airways, Sir Richard said he planned to invest £60m in space tourism, making it accessible to the general public.
The Virgin boss this weekend signed a deal with the California-based Mojave Aerospace Ventures (MAV) for craft based on SpaceShipOne, a rocket-propelled reusable space vehicle created by the aerospace designer Burt Rutan.
Sir Richard said he hoped to offer space flights on which five passengers would each pay £115,000.
The tycoon, who has unsuccessfully attempted to circle the world by hot air balloon, said he planned to be on the first Virgin space flight, which could take place in three years time.
Speaking at the launch, held at the Royal Aeronautical Society in central London, Sir Richard said: "Today is a historic day - it will bring the dream of space travel for many millions closer to reality.
"I hope, with the launch of Virgin Galactic and the building of our fleet of spacecraft, that one day children around the world will wonder why we ever thought that space travel was a dream we read about in books."
Flights are planned to leave from a launchpad in the US, and Virgin expects to create 3,000 "astronauts" over a five-year period. Paying passengers will be given three days training.
Private entertprise will be able to provide more cost-effective, convenient, reusable spacecraft that NASA could ever dream of. If Branson is putting that much money behind it, there must be a market for it.
What do they mean by "space travel"? If all your doing is just barley breaking out of the atmosphere then I would have to say that £115,000 is ton of money to pay. I know if I was tossing up money like that I would want to be in orbit and get a good view at least. In any case it is a start so that maybe in 50 years regular people like us could go.
This is a good idea on many levels. First, it's about time space travel wasn't just the domain of government. More people going into space means more competition, which is how the price for average people will be relatively reasonable by 2020'ish. It'll be almost 50 years after orbit was achieved and 40 years after the moon was reached when this gets off the ground, so depending upon government to make space travel possible for all but the few is unrealistic. Second, if a fleet is built, that will be a boon for the aviation industry, as it will help offset the lack of new orders from airlines as they head towards bankruptcy. And, even if it fails, it'll be Branson who loses money, not taxpayers. Thus, it is a no lose situation.
Originally posted by redsoxnationThis is a good idea on many levels. First, it's about time space travel wasn't just the domain of government. More people going into space means more competition, which is how the price for average people will be relatively reasonable by 2020'ish. It'll be almost 50 years after orbit was achieved and 40 years after the moon was reached when this gets off the ground, so depending upon government to make space travel possible for all but the few is unrealistic. Second, if a fleet is built, that will be a boon for the aviation industry, as it will help offset the lack of new orders from airlines as they head towards bankruptcy. And, even if it fails, it'll be Branson who loses money, not taxpayers. Thus, it is a no lose situation.
The Wright Brothers weren't government funded. Boeing did most of their development on their own. The private sector, especially now, has to ante up if they want to be part of the next wave of developments.
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