Fly Virgin Galactic!

[swestrup]

Interesting tidbit in space news:

The X Prize, funded by the Ansari family of Dallas, was dreamed up nearly a decade ago as an incentive for development of commercial manned rockets that would make space flight a possibility for civilians.

It appears to have achieved that goal even before the first competitive flight.

Richard Branson, the airline mogul and adventurer, announced in London on Monday that his Virgin Group plans to offer passenger flight into space aboard rockets based on SpaceShipOne by 2007.

The plan calls for an investment of $108 million in spaceships and infrastructure for what will be called Virgin Galactic, with fares starting at $208,000. The company believes it will fly 3,000 people into space in its first five years.

So, I don't know if they will be commercially successful, but I think this bodes well.

Comments

[ellenk.livejournal.com]

I wonder if I could get a loan for that?

[swestrup]

If you manage, let me know the name of your banker. I need to see if he's willing to lend me a few million, just to 'tide me over'.