Posted on 07/11/2021 5:51:51 AM PDT by LibWhacker
TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, N.M.—Richard Branson is scheduled to travel to the edge of space Sunday in a flight aimed at spurring a new, multibillion-dollar space-tourism industry.
The flight, originally scheduled for 9 a.m. ET, was delayed 90 minutes on Sunday because of weather overnight at the launch facility in New Mexico. The launch is now scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET.
At that time, a highflying Virgin Galactic Holdings Inc. airplane is expected to take off from the Spaceport America facility near Truth or Consequences. The plane, called the VMS Eve, will carry the spacecraft VSS Unity, which will include Mr. Branson and five others.
The plane will take the spacecraft about 8.5 miles above Earth before releasing Unity about an hour after takeoff. The spacecraft will then rocket to an altitude of more than 50 miles.
The spacecraft is expected to land back in New Mexico, gliding down for a runway landing.
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
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About 5 minutes from Eve releasing Unity!
Despite the hype, this flight will not come anywhere close to achieving orbital velocity.
It’s essentially an updated X-15: it will go up out of most of the atmosphere, experience a few minutes of zero G between engine cutoff and reentry, and then fly back down.
I agree. But, we probably shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that Musk has grown his SpaceX business on the backs of US Taxpayer...not unlike his Tesla business, it shouldn’t be forgotten.
SpaceX enjoys ENORMOUS contracts with DoD and engineering support from the US Air Force and NASA. They’ve been given access to top secret US technologies as a defense contractor. Virgin, OTOH has done it largely all on their own using a novel launch platform. I believe the only taxpayer support they’ve received is whatever tax benefits the state of California offered and a very, very modest technology development contract with NASA (think a few million dollars).
Why must women announcers do uptalk? Like, ya know?
Calk squealing on a chalkboard!
I’m surprised the occupants are wearing pressurized suits. Even U2 and SR-71 pilots wore flight suits.
Host Veronica is awaiting Sir Richard Branson’s “magical words” from space, which she said is now “virgin territory”.
Maybe he’s a little green at the moment.
I am so unimpressed ...
This Virgin coverage is so cheesy, it feels like a low-budget sci-fi movie.
Gotta admit SpaceX’s coverage always feels way more professional, less commercial/retail.
BTW, am I the only one who remembers that Steve Austin, the world's first Six Million Dollar Man did this back in the 70's?
C'mon man!
“More than 600 people have already made reservations for a ride into space with Virgin Galactic”
Have they said anything yet about the ticket price?
(Not that I could afford it)
that should be: I’m surprised the occupants are NOT wearing pressurized suits.
SpaceX’s coverage is so much better.
And while all these guys are full of themselves, at least Musk largely keeps it to Twitter and media appearances and doesn’t require his people to talk about him like a god for the entire broadcast.
Well, that was a quick trip.
Indirectly,and directly, tech advances have fed billions?
A most unimpressive short ride to the edge of space. Launched from a plane, fired upwards by a solid rocket engine for a few minutes and then landing in a glider. I would be embarrassed to be a part of this silly, as you so well put it, stunt. Compared to SpaceX, this is childish stuff.
There’s no sagging in space!
That last landing was a little rough, as I recall.
Details, details ...
*$36 mil in today's dollars
The bionics used have a different value. What's the NPV (Net Present Value) of those?
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