Sorry, Shatner, the weight penalty's just gotten too big...
Posted on 10/22/2004 8:32:50 AM PDT by presidio9
William Shatner wants to boldly go where he's only pretended to go so far.
The "Star Trek" star is among more than 7,000 people who have told Richard Branson they would gladly pay him $210,000 (£115,000) for a trip aboard his planned spacecraft, the entrepreneur said Friday.
Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Dave Navarro has signed up for a ride, and a Hollywood director who was not identified has booked an entire ship.
Trevor Beattie, chairman of the ad agency TBWA -- responsible for campaigns such as the "Hello Boys" Wonderbra campaign with Eva Herzigova -- offered to send a check as soon as the project was launched last month.
In all, more than $1.45 billion (£800 million) has been pledged -- years before the Virgin Galactic spaceship is even built, Branson said.
Branson, 54, is pouring $135 million (£74 million) into his latest commercial experiment, which promises to send the paying public 70 miles above the planet to experience six minutes of weightlessness and see the curvature of the Earth.
Speaking from the Mojave Desert in California, Branson told the UK's Press Association he was overwhelmed by the response.
"We are extremely pleased because it just means in a sense that the gamble we took seems to have paid off," he said.
"Market research suggested that there were that sort of number of people willing to agree to that sort of price.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Sorry, Shatner, the weight penalty's just gotten too big...
Ooo..we should get Capt. Kirk and Spock to go together. That would be a fun publicity stunt.
Denny Crain!
The first ship in the Virgin Galactic fleet is going to be named Enterprise. Seems only fitting for Shatner to go.
Antibodies. An-ti-bo-dies!
Wouldn't it be cool if the first commercial trip had the entire crew? What a huge publicity bonus!
Dammit, Jim! Lay off that Saurian Brandy!
PING
Khannnnnnn!!!!!!
Hell, I would donate 50 bucks to that deal!
BTW Kirk can STILL Kick Picard's ass!
...that's what SpaceShipWinabago is for. :)) Could wind up as 'SpaceShip Hernia.'
If anything God forbid goes wrong, you've got your personal attorney right there! Good for Shatner.
You know, there's something I don't understand about Branson and his Virgin arilines in general: Apparently starting in November, there's going to be this reality show on Fox where the winning contestant will become President of the entire Virgin enterprise. Two questions.
1. (related to this story) Who's going to be in charge of this space ship, if Branson is leaving his job to this contestant winner?
2. Doesn't anyone think that once this person takes over as president of the "Virgin empire", that the entire company's stock will plunge into oblivion, as investors dump it because they don't want stock in a company run by a winner of a stupid game show?
I guess my question is more about the reality show than anything. I mean, is this Branson guy seriously abdicating his role as company president to some game show winner? For good? Anyone know?
BTW, welcome back from the Neutral Zone.
< |:)~
LOL
I do think you're missing a few exclamation points, though. :-)
Wow, maybe taxing the rich more isn't such a bad idea. Too much time and money on their hands. LOL
Preface: I'm a woman.
I have always found Capt. Picard more sexy than Capt. Kirk. But when I was a kid Kirk was the one.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.