Posted on 02/22/2014 9:30:43 AM PST by mandaladon
Richard Branson has reiterated his plan to fly with his children on the inaugural flight of his long-planned commercial space operation, Virgin Galactic, despite the relatively untested nature of the technology and a departure date which has slipped repeatedly.
"Everybody who signs up knows this is the birth of a new space programme and understands the risks that go with that," Branson said in an interview for Weekend magazine at Virgin Galactic's base in the Mojave desert north of Los Angeles. "But every person wants to go on the first flight." While insisting his plan is credible and the first flight, reaching 62 miles above the Earth, will take place later this year – he has previously promised it for this autumn – Branson admits how difficult it has been to overcome the exacting safety expectations of a commercial space operation.
"The biggest worry I had was re-entry. Nasa has lost about 3% of everyone who's gone into space, and re-entry has been their biggest problem.
He said: "For a government-owned company, you can just about get away with losing 3% of your clients. For a private company you can't really lose anybody. Nobody we met had anything but the conventional risky re-entry mechanism that Nasa had. We were waiting for someone to come up with one that was foolproof."
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
I wish I could afford a ticket.
Unfortunately, only people like Branson will be able to afford it.
“For a government-owned company, you can just about get away with losing 3% of your clients.”
Actually, Obamacare doesn’t get under that 3% threshold, yet we’ll still let the Marxist get away with it.
His legs must be made of steel to carry those giant brass balls around.
They should play “Major Tom” on re-entry over the speakers. If I had to choose a way to go, I would be okay getting to see space and burning up on re-entry. Sure beats getting called on your way to work.
True dat!
Branson might be wise to read it. There are some things money can't buy, no matter how much you're willing to spend.
A recent trip to and from London on V.A. was the most miserable time I've ever spent in the air. Air conditioning and other equipment didn't work, outrageously unruly passengers were allowed to harass others with no attempt to control them, food was basically nonexistent and most of the attendants were snarky. I will never book tickets on that airline again!
Dead man walking, or maybe flying.
All Americans should cheer this like we did NASA in the ‘60s.
I wonder how long until the nannies stop all civilian space projects.
fly with his children
If he wants to go fine, leave his children at home.
Maybe he will invite Obama to ride along.
If my dad made me stay home I would never forgive him.
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