Moderators: richierich, ua900, PanAm_DC10, hOMSaR
N14AZ wrote:Brexits are not that easy...
Seriously, thanks for the link. Didn't know they use Cornwall Airport Newquay for the take-off of the 747. I visited that airport in 2012 and thought it's just a rather small domestic airport...
889091 wrote:Has it fallen back to earth yet or has it joined the 'space junk club' in low earth orbit?
Francoflier wrote:On the perils of bombastic and boastful marketing when engaging in high risk ventures...
That 'first launch from the UK' fanfare really was a bit of a stretch, and it almost literally blew up in their faces.
GDB wrote:You are mistaking media fanfare for real significance and Branson getting far too easy a ride by them, many of those at Newquay would have been involved with the payload of satellites, I suppose losing those was funny too?
Francoflier wrote:GDB wrote:You are mistaking media fanfare for real significance and Branson getting far too easy a ride by them, many of those at Newquay would have been involved with the payload of satellites, I suppose losing those was funny too?
I don't find any of this funny.
In fact, any failure from these space startups (although at this stage, Virgin Orbit/Galactic hardly deserve the moniker) rather saddens me as I'd prefer to see a healthy range of thriving private space ventures making access to orbit and beyond more accessible to mankind generally speaking.
Unfortunately, space remains hard and for that reason I do prefer to see a bit of humility from those trying to get there, maybe cautious optimism.
Then again, the SiliconValley-ification of tech enterprises and the way they are funded may just require them to be excessively boastful to find enough financial backers. Promising the Moon - literally or not in this case - may just be the only way to get enough funds. Having extravagant and outspoken billionaires at the helm also appears to help.
I like the air-launched concept but they are going to need to make it work reliably and it's anybody's guess whether they'll survive long enough to achieve that now.
art wrote:IIRC three burns were scheduled for the second stage. Has the launch company revealed anything - was the second burn incomplete or low on thrust or never took place at all?
Apologies if I'm confusing the 3 burn plan with a different launch,
meecrob wrote:Some info here (pic in link):
https://twitter.com/TurbulentSphere/sta ... 90307?s=20
"Things in the VO flight:
- After fairing deploy, the forward cam shows what looks like one fairing half still on
- Shortly later, the LOX level is lower than it should be and there is a large 10g spike in acceleration
- After that, all data is crazy and the gimbal is hard over"
Edit: There is debate as to whether the forward cam shows a fairing half or night view of Earth.
ReverseFlow wrote:Well it seems that Virgin Orbit is temporarily stopping operations and furloughing staff to 'buy time to finalise a new investment plan'
https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... -satellite
GDB wrote:ReverseFlow wrote:Well it seems that Virgin Orbit is temporarily stopping operations and furloughing staff to 'buy time to finalise a new investment plan'
https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... -satellite
And no further flights, much less with paying pax, of Virgin Galactic since July 2021.
All this brings focus to Virgin Galactic, its bigger sister. Virgin Galactic has been doing much better as it gears towards its commercial spaceflight service in the second quarter of this year. Most importantly, the company’s books show that it is in a better position as funding for technology and loss-making companies dry.
Virgin Galactic’s balance sheet shows that it ended the fourth quarter with $909 million in cash and short-term investments. Most of these funds came from sale of shares. However, its debt load has also grown rapidly to over $415 million. It spent $12.1 million in interest expenses in the most recent quarter.
Also, its costs are still elevated. Its net loss jumped to $500 million in the fourth quarter while its operating expenses jumped to $502 million. Free cash flow came in at minus $135 million.
Therefore, I believe that Virgin Galactic is a high-risk company as its cash pile dwindles. There are also concerns about its margins per flight.
Revelation wrote:GDB wrote:ReverseFlow wrote:Well it seems that Virgin Orbit is temporarily stopping operations and furloughing staff to 'buy time to finalise a new investment plan'
https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... -satellite
And no further flights, much less with paying pax, of Virgin Galactic since July 2021.
Questions are being asked about VG. It is in a somewhat better place financially, but far from secure:All this brings focus to Virgin Galactic, its bigger sister. Virgin Galactic has been doing much better as it gears towards its commercial spaceflight service in the second quarter of this year. Most importantly, the company’s books show that it is in a better position as funding for technology and loss-making companies dry.
Virgin Galactic’s balance sheet shows that it ended the fourth quarter with $909 million in cash and short-term investments. Most of these funds came from sale of shares. However, its debt load has also grown rapidly to over $415 million. It spent $12.1 million in interest expenses in the most recent quarter.
Also, its costs are still elevated. Its net loss jumped to $500 million in the fourth quarter while its operating expenses jumped to $502 million. Free cash flow came in at minus $135 million.
Therefore, I believe that Virgin Galactic is a high-risk company as its cash pile dwindles. There are also concerns about its margins per flight.
Ref: https://www.investorsobserver.com/news/ ... 9731322905
MohawkWeekend wrote:CNBC just released a long segment on Branson's recent business reversals.
The Rise and Fall of Richard Branson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvP7RV2umRU
Never understood the business model of space tourism. Too many risks.
GDB wrote:ReverseFlow wrote:Well it seems that Virgin Orbit is temporarily stopping operations and furloughing staff to 'buy time to finalise a new investment plan'
https://www.theguardian.com/business/20 ... -satellite
And no further flights, much less with paying pax, of Virgin Galactic since July 2021.