Commercialization of Space

[Astronuc]

Virgin Mulling Launch of Commercial Space Flights 
Monday, September 27, 2004
 
LONDON - British entrepreneur Richard Branson said Monday that his company plans to launch commercial space flights over the next few years.

Branson's Virgin transport, entertainment and communications group has signed an agreement with pioneering aviation designer Burt Rutan to build an aircraft based on Rutan's SpaceShipOne vessel, Branson said.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,133678,00.html

OK, now this is getting serious.   

Virgin said its agreement to license technology from Allen's company, Mohave Aerospace Ventures (search), could be worth up to $25 million over the next 15 years, depending on the number of spaceships built by Virgin.

The company said it planned to begin construction of the first vessel, VSS Enterprise, next year, and would invest about $108 million in spaceships and ground infrastructure for the venture.

[Astronuc]

Spaceflights Bound for Virgin Territory

By Peter Pae Times Staff Writer

Richard Branson, the daredevil British billionaire and owner of Virgin Atlantic Airways, said Monday that he was launching a commercial rocket service that would take well-heeled passengers for a suborbital ride into space.

The two-hour trip, including drinks and four minutes of weightlessness in space, is set to cost about $190,000.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/latimests/20040928/ts_latimes/spaceflightsboundforvirginterritory

[Rxke]

Excited, too both with Virgin and Bigelows new Prize...

But... How safe is SS1 really? I sure hope nexxt 2-3 flights work out OK...

[Astronuc]

We will hopefully know about SS1 in the next hour.

http://www.xprize.org/webcast/webcast.php

SS1 is scheduled for next flight in 30 minutes (0600 PDT).

[Astronuc]

Branson unveils Virgin spaceship
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5388482.stm

Sir Richard Branson has unveiled a mock-up of the rocket-powered vehicle that will carry clients into space through his Virgin Galactic business.  The Virgin spaceships are designed to carry six passengers and two pilots to an altitude of about 140km on a sub-orbital space flight.

Tickets on a Virgin Galactic flight are expected to cost £100,000 ($190,000).

The mock-up of the spacecraft was unveiled at the Javits exhibition centre in New York on Thursday.

The Virgin craft are based on the design of SpaceShipOne, built by aviation pioneer Burt Rutan, which became the first privately built vehicle to reach space in 2004.

Buckled up for white knuckle ride
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5394130.stm

Sit back, buckle up and prepare for the in-flight entertainment on board the latest in aircraft technology.

But this is no ordinary vehicle. Where are the tall blonde air stewardesses? The blockbuster movie selection? The pre-take-off gin and tonics?

Virgin Galactic's destination is space and the only entertainment on offer is the white-knuckle ride of a lifetime.

For the bargain price of £100,000, you can bag yourself a place on Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic spaceship. The world's first commercial spaceliner, it will rocket customers at four times the speed of sound through the atmosphere on a sub-orbital flight.

Clearly not for the faint of heart or the light of pocket, you would be forgiven for wanting a sneak preview before signing away the hefty £10,000 deposit.

At New York's technology exhibition NextFest, visitors are invited to step on board and see what all the fuss is about.

Just suborbital though.  I hope they serve good champange or Scotch for those prices.