Av8rboie From Canada, joined Aug 2005, 12 posts, RR: 0 Posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 1964 times:
Virgin Atlantic is now going to offer flights to outer space. The cost of the trip $200,000.00 or 2,000,000 frequent flier miles. The first trip is planned for 2008. They said they need time to build the spacecraft, and a space station. How can they possibly think 2 years is enough to accomplish such a large operation?
N328KF From United States of America, joined May 2004, 6222 posts, RR: 3 Reply 1, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 1941 times:
Quoting Av8rboie (Thread starter): Virgin Atlantic is now going to offer flights to outer space. The cost of the trip $200,000.00 or 2,000,000 frequent flier miles. The first trip is planned for 2008. They said they need time to build the spacecraft, and a space station. How can they possibly think 2 years is enough to accomplish such a large operation?
Burt Rutan is the guy doing the engineering. He'll get it done.
When they call the roll in the Senate, the Senators do not know whether to answer 'Present' or 'Not guilty.' T.Roosevelt
Glom From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2005, 2803 posts, RR: 10 Reply 3, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 1923 times:
The station comes later. They are using a derivative of SS1 for the initial venture. When Rutan comes up with an orbital version with a 400NM ceiling, then the station can go ahead.
Pixuk From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2003, 322 posts, RR: 3 Reply 4, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 1879 times:
Quoting Av8rboie (Reply 2): Wow! You sound like you have a lot of faith. Seems like a pretty big task to complete in 24th months still. Should be interesting to see what happens.
A lot of the work already has been done. The only thing new in this news story is that Virgin Atlantic announced this morning that you'll be able to trade 2 million of their frequent flyer miles for a ticket. Virgin Galatic have been selling seats on this for some time.
Mir From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 19697 posts, RR: 56 Reply 6, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 1768 times:
Damn, I might have to start flying VS a lot more....
-Mir
7 billion, one nation, imagination...it's a beautiful day
BCAL From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2004, 3384 posts, RR: 18 Reply 7, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 1726 times:
Quoting Av8rboie (Thread starter): The first trip is planned for 2008. They said they need time to build the spacecraft, and a space station. How can they possibly think 2 years is enough to accomplish such a large operation?
Well if the past is anything to judge by, remember that Branson said after acquiring Virgin Express that within two years they would be the major airline in Europe. He also stated that Virgin Eurostar would carry over 10 million passengers within two years, and that Virgin Cola would outsell Pepsi Cola within two years. Where are Virgin Express and Virgin Cola today?!? Virgin Eurostar? And were we not informed that Virgin America would be up and running by now?
Morever, if Virgin Atlantic cannot even generate enough passengers/revenue to go twice daily on their cherry-picked terrestrial routes other than London/New York, do you honestly think they could succeed on space flights?
MOL on SRB's latest attack at BA: "It's like a little Chihuahua barking at a dying Labrador. Nobody cares."
Lightsaber From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 10664 posts, RR: 100 Reply 9, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 1654 times:
Quoting N328KF (Reply 1): Burt Rutan is the guy doing the engineering. He'll get it done.
If anything, Rutan works best if he isn't given enough time.
Quoting BCAL (Reply 7): Morever, if Virgin Atlantic cannot even generate enough passengers/revenue to go twice daily on their cherry-picked terrestrial routes other than London/New York, do you honestly think they could succeed on space flights?
If nothing else, its going to burn a lot of FF miles!
FlySSC From France, joined Aug 2003, 7313 posts, RR: 61 Reply 10, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 1637 times:
Is that an April fool ?
Richard.B was probably the only one to think he was funny with all his tricks, but now he is becoming really pathetic !
Maybe he still hopes to get 1 or 2 Concorde from BA or AF, boost it with 2 extra engines and here we go ... yallah !
This is ridiculous !
Quoting BCAL (Reply 7): Well if the past is anything to judge by, remember that Branson said after acquiring Virgin Express that within two years they would be the major airline in Europe. He also stated that Virgin Eurostar would carry over 10 million passengers within two years, and that Virgin Cola would outsell Pepsi Cola within two years. Where are Virgin Express and Virgin Cola today?!? Virgin Eurostar? And were we not informed that Virgin America would be up and running by now?
Morever, if Virgin Atlantic cannot even generate enough passengers/revenue to go twice daily on their cherry-picked terrestrial routes other than London/New York, do you honestly think they could succeed on space flights?
ANother From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 13, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 1586 times:
er, can he do it? I don't mean will he be able to buy the necessary technology and engineering expertise - I mean can he do it, legally.
Any sub-orbital flight will have a departure point in the US, and (I believe) the same arrival point. Although the origin and destination is the same this would be a 'domestic' flight, wouldn't it? It wouldn't qualify as 5th freedom, since it isn't connected to a UK/EU originating flight. He couldn't even land in Mexico or Canada, because he would need 7ths freedom rights for that.
Can a non-US company, Virgin, operate a domestic flight in the US? Wouldn't he have to set up a separate company, with 51% US ownership (and 75% US voting rights) AND with 75% US citizen management?
Maybe Virgin-US, if they can get into the air in the next two years can operate this - but would you invest the kind of money necessary, without having Control?
Pixuk From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2003, 322 posts, RR: 3 Reply 15, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 1559 times:
Ok, many are simply dismissing this as they don't know the history.
Burt Rutan won the X Prize with his Space Ship One; the first privately funded vessel to make it into space. Using Paul Allen's money, Burt Rutan has already flown to space. Let me just repeat that. Burt Rutan has already flown to space - three times, and he's won the $10 million X Prize for doing it.
Branson, and the company he formed in September last year, Virgin Galactic, have simply done an exclusive deal with Rutan, and placed an order for five spaceships. Rutan and Branson have already worked together on the GlobalFlyer.
It was reported last month that Branson already has over $10m in deposits (at $20K a piece) for Virgin Galactic, so whilst a.netters might not have faith, there are plenty of paying customers willing to put their money where their mouth is.
Av8rboie From Canada, joined Aug 2005, 12 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (7 years 5 months 2 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 1504 times:
well whether or not it actually happens, the whole prospect is pretty facinating. Just the prospect of every day people taking of for a trip to a space station.
Considering that in the grand scheme of things, even the automobile isn't that old. It's hard to beleive we are on the cusp of citizen space travel.
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If anything, Rutan works best if he isn't given enough time. 
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